Germans from Russia in the Yakima Valley Prior to 1940 (S. Stahl) Published by the Odessa Digital Library - 8 Jul 1996 http://www.odessa3.org This document may be freely used for personal, nonprofit purposes or linked by other WWW sites. It may also be shared with others, provided the header with copyright notice is included. However, it may not be republished in any form without permission of the copyright owner. Copyright 1996, Sherrie Stahl NOTE: This transcription of "Germans from Russia in the Yakima Valley Prior to 1940" was prepared by Sherrie Stahl on March 28, 1996 and is issued with the permission of the authors, Louise Elton Potter and Frieda Eichler Brulotte. GERMANS FROM RUSSIA IN THE YAKIMA VALLEY PRIOR TO 1940 by the Central Washington Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans From Russia by Frieda Eichler Brulotte and Louise Elton Potter "Germans from Russia in the Yakima Valley Prior to 1940" has been underwritten by the Past Presidents of the Chapter: In Memory of Reinhold Eichler, by Eloise Eichler; Alfred Berndt; Frieda Brulotte; David Schoessler; James Weaver; In Memory of Jake Frank, by Bess Frank and family; and Harvey Wederspahn. This book is a Limited Edition only 1,000 were printed. Copyright 1990 by the Central Washington Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans From Russia Printed by Shields Printing - Yakima, WA ---------- The CENTRAL WASHINGTON CHAPTER of the AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY of GERMANS FROM RUSSIA The Central Washington Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia is located in the central part of the state, encompassing the area of the Yakima Valley and also Ellensburg, Prosser and Goldendale. The Chapter was organized in 1973 by a small group of persons whose ancestry was German and from Russia. To qualify for membership in AHSGR as a Chapter, fifteen memberships are required. The number was soon recruited and a Charter was granted at the Convention in Lincoln, Nebraska, July, 1975. Chapter Presidents are as follows: Reinhold Eichler, 1975-76; Alfred Berndt, 1977-78; Frieda Brulotte, 1979-81; David Schoessler, 1982-83; James Weaver, 1984-85; Jake Frank, 1986; Harvey Wederspahn, 1987-88; Bernice Elledge, 1989-90. OUR PURPOSE: The purpose of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia is to bring together people who are interested in the history of Germans from Russia and to collect and preserve their history. Through a better understanding of them, we will also promote a better appreciation of these people and a continuation of their culture through their descendants. ---------- INTRODUCTION The Board of Directors of the Central Washington Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia authorized the concept for what began as a Centennial project commemorating the 100th year of statehood for Washington State. This undertaking was not completed in time for the Centennial however. The information for the biographical sketches was researched from the files and material at the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society, various mortuaries, church records and some cemetery records. The obituary files of the Yakima Herald Republic newspaper are well indexed at the YVGS, and also the early census records. Our thanks to those who let us peruse their records and appreciate the cooperation we received while conducting our research. We thank all of those who wrote their stories as they remembered the past, our thanks also to those who took time for the interviews. We especially thank Al Berndt, who made copies of pictures submitted by various families; to Verlaine Schneider for her pictures of various churches in the lower valley where the German people worshipped, and also for making copies of family photos; to Kathy Covert, for giving generously of her time putting the manuscript on the computer; and to the Montesano Vidette, for allowing the use of their equipment. Lastly, we thank the Chapter members who supported financially and otherwise, it is much appreciated. We know that many more persons who were born in Russia and lived in the valley prior to 1940 do not appear in the book. They may have lived here for a short period of time and then moved on. Most, however, when they "found" the valley with its abundant water, good weather and excellent soil, found "Home", they may have left the valley for a short period of time, but more often than not, they returned. Many arc still living and may not be documented here. Others may have been missed, not intentionally, however. It is hoped that if there are errors, and there may be in the spelling of villages and names due to our various sources, they will be overlooked and the reader will enjoy the book for what it is meant to be, capturing the lives of those Germans from Russia who settled in the valley, who worked in the beet fields; the hop yards; the orchards; at the various factories; at the U & I Sugar Company; at Cal Pack (later Del Monte), where corn, peas, asparagus, etc. are canned; on the railroad to help transport our crops far and wide; the various nurseries where seedling trees are raised; and at the many businesses. We hope you will find this book thrilling and delightful as you read about your neighbors and friends, their parents, the struggles they had in a new country, and the memories of growing up in a German home in the Yakima Valley. It is our hope this book will bring back memories, perhaps forgotten for a time, and for the next generation, an awareness of their rich and unique heritage. The Authors 1990 ---------- DEDICATION This book is dedicated to the memory of those persons called Germans from Russia who settled in the Yakima Valley when the area was still in its stage of growth and development. The book "Germans from Russia in the Yakima Valley Prior to 1940" tells the story of how they adjusted to the way of life in a country that offered new opportunities for their families. It tells of hardships, but also how they made a better life for their families. They built homes and churches, still keeping many of the traditional ways that were the center of their life in Russia. In many of the homes and from those interviewed, they stated "the folks didn't talk much about the 'Old Country', they wanted us to be Americans" and that they are, serving in all walks of life. In this book we have compiled all of the family names we found of settlers prior to 1940 who were born in Russia and immigrated to the United States and to the Yakima Valley. There are many who were born in Russia that came to the valley after 1940, we remember them too. Their gift to each of us is the difference they made to our nation. They taught us to humble, yet proud, to be reverent, to love God and to love our neighbor. They brought their values, all of which have helped make our nation strong. Therefore, this book is in MEMORY and HONOR of those Germans from Russia who helped in making our Valley what it is today. ---------- TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I - A Brief History of Washington State and the Yakima Valley Chapter II - Towns in our Valley Chapter III - Churches where they worshipped Chapter IV - Biographical Sketches and pictures (pictures not included in this digital version) Index - Village and Ancestral Surname (not included in this digital version) Appendix: The book contains excerpts from the following: --Public Documents and Papers, News Articles, Books --Buena Beginnings, by Bess Harold & Anne Morrison --Bugles in the Valley, by H. Dean Guie --History and Biography of Yakima County, by Unigraphics --History of Toppenish, by Toppenish Historical Museum Board --History of Yakima Valley, by Professor W.D. Lyman --Mook-See, by Alice M. Toupin --Polk's Yakima City and County Directory, 1929 --Sunnyside at 60, by Roscoe Sheller --The Yakima Valley, a special edition by the Yakima Herald Republic --Valley of the Strong, by AK 11 Publication, Yakima --Wapato History and Heritage, by Wapato History Committee Abbreviations: B.......Ball Funeral Home CFH.....Colonial Funeral Home DFH.....Drake Funeral Home FLC.....Faith Lutheran Church GLC.....Grace Lutheran Church HLC.....Hope Lutheran (Church K&K.....Keith & Keith F. Home LMFH....Langevin Mussetter F. Home MFH.....Merritt Funeral Home MM......McIntosh Mortuary, Prosser (has Ball Funeral Home records) S&S.....Shaw & Sons TR......Toppenish Review YHR.....Yakima Herald Republic YVGS....Yakima Valley Gen. Society ---------- CHAPTER I Washington State and the Yakima Valley A Perspective A Brief History of Washington State and the Yakima Valley It was on November 11, 1889 that President issued a proclamation admitting Washington to the "Union". In his signing of the Omnibus Bill, he created the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Washington. Washington had endured the second class status of a territory from 1853 until 1889. It was the 42nd state to become a state in the Union. The history of Washington is tied in with the history of Oregon. In 1842 the first immigrant train came over the Oregon Trail. The following years a "Great Migration" followed the trail and settled in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. In 1843 they established for themselves a provincial government. In 1844 the United States received the title to the Territory of Oregon from a compromise treaty. In 1846 a treaty with Britain fixed the boundary at it's present position, the 49th parallel. The Oregon Territory included the present states: Oregon, Idaho, Washington, parts of Montana and Wyoming. Its area was reduced in 1853 by the creation of the Washington Territory. The first Governor of the Washington Territory was Isaac I. Stevens, he was also appointed superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Washington Territory. The land in many of the states gives the impression of sameness, but not Washington. There is a range of mountains on the west side that lies about a hundred miles inland, west of that is forested expanse. The east side of the Cascade range of mountains is a vast inland region. Washington straddles the Cascade range and is divided in terms of climate and geography, it is made up of two unrelated halves, the eastern half and the western half. The Yakima Valleys, which is the Upper and Lower Valley, is the largest in the state, in particular the Lower Valley. The region is encompassed by the watershed of the Yakima River and it's tributaries. Herein is a series of level valleys, separated by a series of sharp ridges and connected by gaps through which the river and it's tributaries have forced their way. Level valleys, ridges and gaps compose the physical structure of the Yakima Valley. The two highest mountain peaks, Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier, are within sight of many points in the Yakima Valley. Only the native Indians inhabited the Valley. It was the home to the tribes that made up the Yakima Indian Nation. Fourteen tribes and bands comprised the Yakima Indian Nation. They brought a rich heritage to the valley, while living with and adopting the ways of the white man. Central Washington is arid, summers are warm and winters cold, no trees were seen except in the river bottoms and creeks and streams where the grass was lush. Much of the area was covered with sagebrush and greasewood. When Washington became a Territory, Isaac I. Stevens was given instruction to enter into treaties with the Indians, this was to include the Indians in the Northwest not just the Yakimas. These treaties would place the Indians on reservations. The 1855 treaty created the Yakima Indian Reservation. When the Indians resisted giving up their traditional lands, war ensued. Chief Kamiakin was very displeased with the terms of the treaty and resented giving up their traditional lands. This brought the U. S. Infantry, Ninth Regiment to the Valley, and an Army post was established, the site chosen for this Fort was at Simkwe, now known as Simcoe. When the soldiers came to the land of the confederated Yakima tribes and bands, the site of Fort Simcoe long had been a favorite assembly place for the native people, located in the immediate foothills with Mt. Adams (Pah-toh) in the background. Wood was handy, springs ran amid the oaks and willows. Simcoe Creek cuts through the ridge flowing down to the Toppenish plain. The Army post was established as a temporary military post. Fort Simcoe's importance is not from battles fought there, for none were, although in the vicinity a lively engagement took place in the year prior to it's founding. The government appointed an agent to work with the Yakimas, he was a man well known to the Indians, he had been among them to arrange their appearance at the Walla Walla council, where the 1855-56 treaties were made. This man was Andrew J. Bolon, he was a large, athletic man with striking red hair. He was traveling alone on his way to see Chief Kamiakin at Ahtanum, but the chief was not there so Bolon went on to Simcoe when he fell in with a party of Yakimas, on a stop along the way the Indians killed him. This murder started a battle with the Yakimas. War with the Northwest Indian tribes lasted until 1878. The Yakima Valley's first comers were "Squaw Men", some of them were transient wanderers, while others stayed and became influential. One of the first real settlers was F. Mortimer Thorp. He was born in Kentucky, his wife, Margaret Bounds, was born in Tennessee. In the year 1844, they came to Oregon, and in 1858 the family, then including nine children, located in the Klickitat Valley in Washington Territory, north of The Dalles, Oregon. The crossing of the Columbia River was at The Dalles. Thorp pulled up stakes in 1860 and drove a herd of cattle into the Moxee, the place he chose was along the flats on the east side of the Yakima River. He built a log cabin for the cattle drivers to live in that year. The next year in February 1861, he moved his family to their new log home on the Moxee (by the big spring), his wife, four boys and five girls. Others who came with him were the Hensons and Splawn. They may be considered the first permanent settlers in the history of Yakima. The Moxee Valley (Mook-See) was among the first area to be settled in Yakima County. Besides Thorp, Henson and Splawn, other settlers moved into the area settling mostly near the river and along the Ahtanum. The Moxee Land Company was founded in the 1880s to develop the Moxee Valley. Other early settlers were Dutch and French families from Minnesota. The early Dutch developed some of the first orchards and the French excelled in the growing of hops. The Yakima Valley has become the leading hop producing area in the nation. The year 1866 saw a steady, though not a large increase in the settlement of the area. In a couple of years, several of the better known families of the Yakima Valley became permanently located. Soon settlers came thick and fast. The cluster of houses and several stores were established near the Gap, between the Upper and Lower Valley, they named it Yakima City. There were no permanent settlements in the lower valley until many years later. Arid conditions in the Valley led to the development of the irrigation systems. The annual snowfall in the Cascade Mountains supplied the necessary water necessary for what was to become an extensive farming community. xxxxxxA big change occurred with the coming of the Northern Pacific Railroad to the Yakima Valley. They decided the location of Yakima City was not the best for future expansion of the city. They decided to plat a town four miles north and locate a railroad station there. The railroad offered a free lot in the new town site for any business and/or resident willing to move. In the spring of 1885 a " whole town" was moving. The new town was named North Yakima and remained North Yakima until 1918 when the name was changed to Yakima and Yakima City was named "Old Town" (later to become Union Gap). One of the early industries in Yakima was the Boise Cascade Lumber Company. Soon other businesses came into being. The U & I (Utah and Idaho) Sugar Company started raising sugar beets and processing them into sugar. It became necessary for them to go outside of the valley for the workers needed in the fields and factory. Prior to 1915, a few families of Germans from Russia had moved into the Valley, some had left Canada on hearing about this fertile valley and the availability of water, and the opportunities it presented for the whole family to work. It was the year 1916 that Mr. George Wertenberger came from Odessa, Washington to look into the prospects of work. In the following year or two quite a number of families from Odessa, Ritzville and other areas made the move to the Yakima Valley. Most of them worked in the beet fields, hop yards during hop picking season, and also in the fruit. Many of the families soon began farming for themselves. They either bought or leased land, much of it was from the Indians as the lower valley is on the Indian Reservation. The growth and development of the Yakima Valley moved forward and towns and communities in both the upper and lower valleys became populated with many different nationalities and races. By 1920 there were about 500 first generation Germans from Russia living in the Yakima County. The economic conditions of the U.S. went through some tough times, the Stock Market Crash in 1929 and the Great Depression that followed are still vivid memories for many. Also at that time the midwest was experiencing a severe drought. Many people left their homes and came to the Yakima Valley. Large numbers came from North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado and also Canada. Some families moved to the larger cities such as Portland, Oregon and Tacoma, Washington, where they found employment. The Germans from Russia soon established their churches. Many were of the Lutheran faith and many Catholic. The traditions of many were still followed as in the "Old Country" and the German language was spoken. In time the German was taken over by English and only rarely was the German language spoken. As the years went by, the Valley grew more populated, town after town began to appear in both the Upper and Lower Valley. The intricate irrigation systems brought water to many thousands of acres of land. There is no question but that this region is one of the most productive and diversified in the United States. ---------- CHAPTER II TOWNS IN OUR VALLEY A potpourri of community life... -- AHTANUM Before the arrival of the white man to the Yakima Valley only the Indians lived here, they were known as the Yakimas. Fourteen tribes and bands comprised the "Yakima Nation". They were a mobile people, following the seasons for fishing and hunting. In the year 1849, KA-MI-AKIN, Chief of the Yakimas, lived at the Ahtanum Creek (located south and west of the city of Yakima). He made a trip across the mountains to the west and became acquainted with Catholic Missionaries. The interest of the Catholic Church to work among the Indians was an early venture into the west. When Kamiakin returned to the valley, he brought with him Father Pandosy and Brother Blanchet. A hut was built for them and the Ahtanum Mission was established near the home of the Chief. He was shown how to irrigate his garden and few trees from the water of the creek. Cattle was the first export crop in the Yakima Valley. Chief Kamiakin introduced the first cattle in the year 1840. He had made a trip to Fort Vancouver and traded horses for some head of black Spanish cattle. The Yakima tribes and horses traveled east to the Great Plains to hunt buffalo with other tribes. It was in 1860 that F. Mortimer Thorp, white pioneer from the Klickitat, brought his cattle to the Moxee, in the Yakima Valley. (His story is related in the story of Moxee.) By 1870 the few family settlers at Ahtanum felt the need of religious services. Fenn B. Woodcock, Elisha Taylor and their families started Sunday School in their homes. The Congregational Church was organized and built in 1884, it was the fourth Congregational Church in Washington Territory. The Woodcock Academy, a Christian School, was established in 1892. Although Chief Kamiakin never adopted the white man's religion, it was he who had invited the "black robes" to come into the Yakima country and teach the young to read and write. Today, the Mission is a noted Historical Monument, the original building was destroyed and the log building that is preserved dates to those early times. The early Congregational Church is still in use in Ahtanum. -- BUENA Buena, surprisingly, had a good beginning, the location would seem to be ideal. The area was known in the early days as Konewock, an Indian word meaning "a lush, green, marshy place", and included all of the area from Buena to Union Gap. The area was later called Parker Bottom. The community, near the turn of the century, was called Springdale because of the excellent fresh water spring which supplied many ranches for miles around. When the post office was established in 1913, a new name had to be chosen because there was another Springdale in the state. The town was then named Jonathan, after the Jonathan apple, which was the main crop. In 1919, the name was changed once again, this time to Buena, which means "good" in Spanish and was the name of one of the stations along the newly constructed OWR&N Railroad near Springdale. The coming of the railroad furnished a means for shipping fruit and brought many new settlers. In 1919, however, it was reported to have only about 25 people in residence. At the end of World War I, a boom began and within a few months the community grew tenfold. The Tum- A-Lum Lumber Company opened as did the Buena State Bank, the Buena Mercantile, Buena Hotel, a meat market, garages and Buena Evaporators. William Parker, Ben Snipes and Henry Allen were big cattlemen in the area. A packing warehouse showed tremendous volume. There were churches, the Evangelical Church was built in 1917, the Methodist Church in 1909, and the Baptist Church in 1921. The first school was finished in 1901 in Springdale, later a brick school was built on the hill overlooking the town. Buena was growing, there was a library plus a Grange for social events. There is little of the town that remains as it was in its heyday, however, "it is still a thriving farming community of fine orchards vineyards and fat cattle." Taken from Buena Beginnings. -- GRANDVIEW During the years when the valley was seeing a growth and many people were coming into the lower valley, the newest of the towns was Grandview. It is almost the geographical center of that portion of the valley between Selah Gap and the junction with the Columbia River. Grandview is located about forty miles from Yakima. It had the transportation advantage of location on both of the railroads. It produces many varieties of fruit, vegetables, wheat and other grains, livestock and many fields of hops and grapes. Now one finds many wineries in the area. The story is told that two men were working in the area on a spring morning in 1906, laying out lots for a terminal for the Northern Pacific Railroad for their Sunnyside Branch. As they looked out over the valley from a small sagebrush covered hill and the day was clear and bright, they could see both Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier in the distance. One said "It really is a grand view from here". The other one replied "It sure is". Thus the town was named. In 1920, the population was 1,011 and was served by six passenger trains daily. It was the fourth largest fruit shipping center of the northwest states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho in the mid 20s. Also produced alfalfa, corn, sugar beets, potatoes and truck garden. It was also important in the raising of stock, hogs and sheep. It had one bank, two department stores, four grocery stores, three garages, nine warehouses, three lumber yards, fruit cannery, jelly factory, dehydrating plant and creamery. It had three school buildings, an accredited high school and five churches, according to Polk's City and County Directory of Yakima in 1929. -- GRANGER The days are now gone when cattle by the thousand grazed in the fertile Yakima Valley. A new era had come with the building of the railroad and the canal system. With the land grants given the railroad by the government, a change was taking place which could be called a real estate boom. Walter Granger, an engineer, was brought into the area to lay plans for the canal system which was to bring water to the dry area. It was evident by the small gardens that were irrigated and the private ditches some were using to begin watering the places in the upper valley, that a larger canal would furnish water for many acres. The stage was set, investors, workmen and farmers were eager for new opportunities. One of these was the Granger Land Co. One of the towns platted was a town now known as Granger. By 1905 homes and places of business were being established. A well was dug in the center of town and was the only one for some time. The Sunnyside Canal soon brought water on a large scale and supplies water for thousands of acres. First the land had to be cleared and prepared for irrigation. The removal of the sagebrush and wild grasses was a rough job, the land needed to be leveled and plowed. The pattern for the future was set. Sun, water and much work transformed the valley into an agricultural paradise. Granger is situated in the center of the lower valley, along the route of the railroad. By the mid 1920s it had a population of 600, had a bank, brick and tile works, a weekly newspaper, library, high school, and six churches. -- MABTON Another small community located along the Northern Pacific Railroad, thirty miles south of Yakima, is Mabton. It lies at the extreme eastern edge of the Yakima Indian Reservation in the lower valley. It became a shipping point of the Sunnyside, Horse Heaven and Bickleton wheat belt. It was surrounded by thousands of acres of arid sagebrush soil. In 1892 Samuel P. Flower, formerly from Bickleton built a warehouse and store at Mabton. Another early settler of Mabton was Jock Morgan, he was raising cattle and had acquired several thousand acres on the north bank of the Yakima River in 1881. When the railroad came through about three years later, they erected a water tank, section house and a siding station. On the opposite side of the river and about a mile away from Mabton, Jock Morgan built a ferry so as to reach the siding of Mabton. Mabton, so named, is a contraction of the name Mabletown. One of the railroad officials had a daughter named Mable, the town was named for her. In the following years Mabton expanded with the building of warehouses, store, hotel, school and it had a regular railway station. In 1902 the Mabton Townsite Company was incorporated, and within two and a half decades the population had reached 800. -- MOXEE Mook-See ... Moxie The name of the present town, Moxee, had the Indian name before the white settlers came. It is located at a distance of four miles from the city of Yakima. The Indian name meant "land of the tulees". The first permanent white settler in the Moxee Valley was F. Mortimer Thorp. To tell the story of Moxee is to first tell about the Thorps. Mortimer Thorp, a Kentuckian, born 1822; his wife, Margaret Bounds, was born in Tennessee, crossed the plains and mountains in 1844 locating in Polk County, Oregon. He left Oregon in 1858 with his family and crossed the Columbia to the "Klickitat" country. His primary interest was cattle raising, building up a fine herd of Durham cattle. Upon hearing about the green pastures in the Yakima Valley, he again made the decision to move on. With his hired hands, he drove his herd of two hundred fifty head of cattle to the Yakima Valley in the fall of 1860. He picked the well-watered wild pasture of the lower Moxee just above the Union Gap as a perfect spot to settle (along the east side of the Yakima River). The following year he moved his family, wife and nine children, following the old Indian trail over the Konnowock Pass into the Moxee. The valley is approximately twenty miles long, east to west. The Indians used the tulee to weave baskets and mats. Many more settlers soon came to the valley and established their homes and stayed Around 1885-86 schools were erected, many just two room cabins. The Moxee School District was consolidated in 1910. The Holy Rosary School, a private Catholic School, was built in 1915. The Catholic Church in Moxee was built in 1900, with a membership of 80 families, in which the French and English language was spoken. The largest number of settlers in Moxee were Hollanders and French, some came as early as 1886. By 1947, it was 100 years since the first oblate priest came into the valley. Water from the Yakima River and the creeks was put to good use by building ditches and irrigation soon proved how fertile this land was, and still is. When hop roots were introduced into the area, the French settlers found this to be a perfect area to grow hops, and planted many acres. Moxee at the present time is noted as one of the largest producers of hops world-wide. The first years of hop growing, the picking was all done by hand and many hands were needed. When the Germans from Russia came here they found this to be a seasonal job for the whole family. Indians were also hired in large numbers. They were set up in separate campgrounds and had their own after-work activities. Other improvements were made, including a spur track of the railroad. A telephone system was put in, the city of Moxee soon had businesses, a grocery, hardware store, a bank. The town was incorporated in 1921. Like the rest of the country, the valley also went through the trying time of the "Great Depression". This caused a depressed hop market along with the other enterprises. At the present time hops are an important item to the economy but other crops are as vital to the area. The apple industry, as well as some vineyards and business has come to Moxee also. The system of canals and ditches are the most vital part of the economy. One of the largest of the canals is the noted Roza Canal. This Canal carries water to many thousands of acres in the lower valley as well as the Moxee. The pastures that F. Mortimer Thorp found for his cattle are still being used as pasture and is still a cattle ranch, now owned by Mr. & Mrs. Walter Brulotte. -- PROSSER The development of Prosser like many other communities in the Yakima Valley, was due to the construction of the irrigation system and the building of the railroad. Prosser is situated at Prosser Falls on the Yakima River. Stockmen and construction crews working on the railroad caused the necessity for a place to get needed supplies. The land for Prosser was located by Colonel William Parker, the year was 1883, that same year, two businesses were built. The growth of the town began to move forward in about 1890 when the canal system was extended to Prosser. Farmers on the Rattlesnake wheat plateau to the north, and the Horse Heaven country to the south, made Prosser their trading point. Many acres of land were soon under cultivation, the area is a diversified farming area. Prosser became a rapidly growing city. It's schools, churches and business enterprises are proof of it's progress. With it's many acres of hops, open farming and later the vineyards, it makes this a beautiful community. The wineries that are at Prosser produce excellent wines, comparable to the imported wines from Europe, many excelling the imports. -- SELAH -- WENAS The early history of the Selah Valley, first known as Wenas Valley, ties into the early history of the mapping and surveying of a proposed route for the railroad. The surveying crew was led by Captain George B. McClellan, starting in the year 1853, the route would eventually follow the Yakima River. Coming from the north, out of the canyon into the Selah-Wenas Valley and on into Yakima and so on into the lower valley region. Another account of the Selah-Wenas story is about a group of people that formed a wagon train and headed west. One such group was led by James Longmire born in Indiana in 1820. The bulk of this wagon train came from Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois. They headed for the Oregon Territory in 1853. When they reached the Columbia River, they crossed the river and headed north coming into the Yakima country. They entered the Yakima Valley area through the East Selah hills and made their way into the Wenas Valley. In their search for a route over the Cascade Mountains they were to experience extreme hardships. They followed the Naches River heading into the mountains, crossing and re- crossing the river several times, also following the Indian trails. They succeeded in making the climb over the Cascades and came into the Nisqually River area on the west side. The families soon settled in the Puget Sound area, some homesteaded and others began businesses. Some years later, David Longmire, son of James (he was a boy nine years of age when they made the journey over the mountains), returned to the Wenas where he became a prominent land owner and leader in development of the valley. When the first family settled in the Moxee (The Thorps), the Henson family came with them. They stayed near the Thorps in the Moxee from 1861 to 1865, then decided to move a short distance along the Yakima River. The first place they lived on is through the Selah Gap and located on the west side of the river. This will later be the location of the town of Selah. Henson played an important role in the settlement and growth of the area. They would visit his father who lived in The Dalles, Oregon and was a nurseryman, and bring back seeds, shrubs, tree plantings, seeds of a variety of flowers and vegetables. Mrs. Henson was very generous in giving out seeds, etc., to her neighbors. The hop root was soon introduced to Selah. Another early resident to the Selah-Wenas area, was Augustan Cleman with his family. He brought some " firsts" into the valley, one of which was the first flock of sheep. Cattle had already been an industry for many years through the Yakima Valley. He built a large two-storied house, which still stands today. A large mountain separating the upper Wenas and Naches Valley honors Augustan Clemans and is named Mt. Clemans. The largest segment of settlers in the Selah-Wenas were of Swedish ancestry. They became the most influential, and prospered, their descendants are many in the community. A few French and German families came, mostly after the Swedes. From the area of Odessa and Ritzville, Washington came immigrants of German ancestry from Russia in response to the need for workers in the sugar beet, hop yards and in the orchards. Many soon acquired land and began farming for themselves, mostly in the lower Yakima Valley. In the year 1919, Selah became an incorporated town, some of the first names for it were, Wenas Station, Henson, and in the course of time, Selah. Again, the railroad changed the history of the area, it linked the valley with the rest of the nation. -- SUNNYSIDE As one travels south from the city of Yakima, through the Gap, following the course of the Yakima River, there spreads before you a broad valley for many miles. A short distance into the valley rises an irregular high basaltic ridge about eight miles long: Snipes Mountain! One of the earliest of cattle men to graze cattle through the valley was Ben Snipes, he became known as a cattle king in the county. The fertile valley, even though it was semi-arid, produced bunch grass in abundance, and was an excellent source of feed for cattle. Many herd of cattle were raised in those early days and shipped north into British Columbia and elsewhere. But the over-grazing soon surpassed its capacity for that many cattle. Things changed with the arrival of the railroad in 1884-85. The large amount of acres the government granted the railroad was offered to settlers by the then President Thomas Oakes of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The result was an influx of settlers to the Yakima Valley. In this dry area, the small gardens that were irrigated from the ditches proved that it was a necessary system, needed to grow the crops and vegetation. Inspired with the vision of larger ditches and canals, Oakes sent for an engineer to survey for a canal that would supply the area with irrigation water. In 1894, the town site of Sunnyside was platted before it was certain a canal would be built. The Sunnyside Canal was built in the lower valley with the Sunnyside Dam on the Yakima River controlling the flow. The company that financed the construction went broke and the few settlers that had lived in that part of the valley left. In the mid-western part of the U.S. a group of Christians were looking for a place where they could raise their families in a vice- free community. They found the place they were looking for at the site of Sunnyside and purchased it, bring their families to the area. By 1902 a forty mile stretch of the canal was built, the community was proving a success and soon many other settlers moved to the area. The city grew, businesses started up, schools were established, newspaper and other enterprises as well. The town was incorporated in 1902. A telephone system was put in place. With the increase of settlers, the canal was extended to Prosser, the canal was transferred to the U.S.R.S. in 1906. The water transformed the valley into a region prosperous beyond the expectations of those who first dreamed of developing the canal system, life in the planned community had exceeded their dreams. Sunnyside is located on the east side of Snipes Mountain and was not on the railroad line. A spur line was put in and another industry was built, the U & I Sugar Company erected a factory in 1918. In education and religious facilities, Sunnyside is especially blest. Among the people that settled in the area of Sunnyside were Germans who had immigrated from Russia. The sugar beet industry was one of the main reasons the Germans came here. An important improvement put into place was a bridge across the Yakima River. It took the place of the ferry that was in use. The exports from Sunnyside are an abundance of crops; potatoes, apples, hay, many varieties of fruits and vegetables, grapes are now grown and wineries are in competition with world-wide wines. Sunnyside at the present time has become an important city in the valley. -- TOPPENISH The city of Toppenish is situated about the center of the valley on the main line of the Northern Pacific Railroad, nineteen miles southeast of Yakima. Toppenish was the principal trading and shipping point on the Yakima Indian Reservation in the year 1904. Toppenish is an Indian word, in the Yakima tongue it means "sloping". In the Klickitat tongue it means "the main or highest trail". The Toppenish and Satus Creeks, whose sources are in the Simcoe Range, flow through the reservation. When the railroad was built in the middle 1880s a section house, water tank and a telegraph station were established there. Also stockyards were built by the company. Mr. Thomas Stalen in the late '80s opened a trading post about three miles below Toppenish. In 1890 N. H. Lillie opened the first business in Toppenish, plus a post office, of which Mr. Lillie was the first postmaster. Soon other businesses came into being. The white man came and began leasing large areas of the reservation and began farming the land. The first government canal on the reservation was built in 1896-97, diverting water from the Yakima River. In a few years large quantities of hay, fruit, potatoes, hops and livestock were shipped. Sugar beets were introduced into the valley, they required a large number of workers. This brought many German families. Since their immigration to America from Russia, a large number were still moving from one state to another looking for that place where they could make a better living for themselves and their families. The Germans from Russia were a hard-working people, and the beet fields proved to be just that. Southeast of Toppenish a number of families of this ethnic people settled in what is still known as Germantown. At the present time nearly all of those families and their descendants have moved from there. A most interesting aspect in the life of Toppenish centers around the Indians. The Indians spend the winter months at their winter lodge. The Indian Agency is located at Toppenish. The lodge and long- house served as a shelter as well as a place for learning about the past and planning for the future. Today another "Winter Lodge" has been erected. It is the "Yakima Nation Cultural Center". This large and attractive center is off Highway 97, just west of the city of Toppenish. It consists of the Lodge, a library, a museum, theatre and restaurant. It is a tribute to their proud past and to their hope for the future. The entire center sits on 23 acres of landscaped park, towering above all components of the center is the Winter Lodge, 76 feet into the air. Many Indians, because of their work with cattle and horses, became great rodeo performers. Many of them were cattlemen, some were Polo players. The All-Indian Rodeo at White Swan is still an annual event. Toppenish, the principal town on the Reservation and cattle shipping point, was the first valley town to stage a rodeo. The Indian Fair and Roundup started in the early 1900s. The whole Yakima Valley was rodeo country back in the years before 1900. Cattlemen were the first to utilize the valley with their herds, Ben Snipes and the Splawns were most prominent. The Splawns stayed and played an important role in the settlement of the valley and are credited with recording much of the early history of the valley. Germantown This predominantly German "town" is located approximately one mile east and south of Toppenish on the Meyers Road, in the heart of the beautiful Yakima Valley. Acreage was platted by Royal A Gove and his wife, Emma, in the late 1800s and has seen several generations of Germans from Russia and their descendants settle there. In 1937, when Bill Wingardner was about 20, he remembered the names of several families living there. His parents, Kasimir and Magdalena bought 2 1\2 acres in Germantown in December of 1908 and he was raised there. The entrance from Meyers Road in to Germantown is but a single lane dirt road, lined on either side by mostly neat, clean, fenced yards. The first house on the right belonged to the John Garman family, next were the Gross; Hackner; Ebert; Frank & Phil Kirkoffner; Balthazar (Balzer) Mastel; and Frank and Bertha Meier families. On the left side of the road were Kasimir Wingerter, Jr. (Wingarter, Wingartner); Kasimir Wingerter, Sr. (Wingarter); August Kirkoffner; a family of colored people; Mr. & Mrs. John Schnellbach and John Glass. There were open places between the houses and more houses have since been built. By Thelma Wingardner In a note from Emma Mastel Roundtree, she states that her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Peter Mastel, also lived there, as did the Hickman and Heilman families. On Meyers Road lived the Schloss and Andreas families. Several families listed above still live in Germantown. California Packing Corporation Del Monte Corporation California Packing Corporation began operation in the Yakima Valley at Toppenish in 1936. The first temporary cannery was located in the old alfalfa warehouse with the permanent or current building, located on East Third, constructed in 1937, the first year corn was packed. Ken Sanger was the first superintendent, the farm superintendent was Ed Wilmeth, they were both from Illinois. During World War II many acres of peas were planted in the valley and were processed by Cal Pack. In 1947 the processing of asparagus was begun, the climate of the Yakima Valley is ideally suited for the growing of such row crops. At one time the cannery packed pumpkin and also lima beans, at the present time, however, only asparagus and corn are processed. It seemed feasible that they make their own cans, so in 1956 a can plant was built, its first superintendent was E. L. Bargewell. Cans are made not only for their own use but for other Del Monte canneries also. California Packing Corporation began when five independent California packers joined together in 1916. They sold under the label "Del Monte". In 1966, on the company's 50th Anniversary, the name was changed to De! Monte Corporation. At the present time, De} Monte and Western Pack, a meat packing plant, are the only industries in Toppenish. Del Monte hired 884 in the cannery in 1989 during peak operation and 62 in the can plant. Del Monte also has a fruit cannery in Yakima which began prior to 1935. It canned cherries, peaches, apricots and pears. It now cans only pears. Information courtesy of Everett Jacobs Colonial Funeral Home One of the principle sources of information for this book for the Toppenish area was the Colonial Funeral Home. It began at the turn of the century by a Mr. Bradbury, father of Dr. Bradbury, a Toppenish dentist for many years. The following was taken from the book recently published by the Toppenish Historical Museum Board "A History of The City of Toppenish". "...in January, 1906, M. Q. Bradbury moved to Toppenish...He also built a cottage...at 409 S. Toppenish Ave., and a little later built an addition to the back of the cottage where he opened the first undertaking establishment...He (later) built an undertaking establishment on South Alder Street and conducted business there for several years. In 1926 he sold the business to W. M. Drake". It was then named Drake Funeral Home. The records prior to March 1, 1929 were destroyed by fire. It was about this time that the mortuary was relocated to South Alder and West Second. In the mid 1940s, the funeral home was purchased by Kingsley Hopkins. He was the music instructor for the Toppenish School District. Mr. Hopkins named it Hopkins Mortuary. Mr. Hopkins died in 1959 and in 1960 the name was once again changed, this time to Hopkins-Watson Mortuary. In 1965, it was changed to Colonial Funeral Home. It was owned by various persons until 1980 when it was purchased by Service Corporation, Inc. The manager, Bill Brown, has been with Colonial since 1959. A special "Thanks" to Mr. Brown for allowing the research of the records and to his secretary, Leslie Torres, for her helpfulness. -- WAPATO The name of Wapato was first known as Simcoe, it was a blind siding on the main line of the Northern Pacific Railroad until 1902. Alex McCredy of North Yakima was appointed Indian Post trader for Wapato, he opened his store in August of that year. Settlers had been in the area as early as 1885. As the population increased, so the little settlement grew. It was 1908 when it reached the number of residents, 354, to become incorporated, 300 was required. Their fourth class town was land-locked by Indian property, it's location is in the heart of the Indian reservation. The name "Wapato" comes from an Indian word "We-pa-too", an edible root of great value to the Indians. Wapato's first newspaper, the Wapato Independent, was established in 1906 by C. M. Schoeder, a school teacher. The Wapato Independent is still being published and still under the same name. Probably the greatest contribution to the development of Wapato was the "Jone's bill" which permitted the Indians to sell portions of allotted acres. Many farmers now own this deeded land. Soon other ethnic people settled in the valley. Japanese immigrated into the Yakima Valley, the earliest family recorded was Kinitaro Ishiwaka in 1891. The sandy loamy soil close to Wapato was well-suited for garden crops of which melons and vegetables of a broad variety were raised on the Japanese farms. Other farms produced hay, potatoes, onions and fruit orchards and at the present time hop yards are planted. In the early 1920s, a considerable number of Filipinos came to the Wapato rural community. The history of Wapato shows the development of the school system, businesses and churches. H. I. Sourwine, an undertaker and embalmer, came to Wapato from Puyallup in 1911 and built the first Undertaking parlor. The establishment is now the Merritt Funeral Home. In 1929, the population of Wapato was listed as 1635. Other ethnic people to come into the valley are Germans from Russia, French, Hollanders, Italian, Bulgarians, Scottish, and Danish, and now many Hispanics. Most of those early settlers made this their permanent home and we now find many of the descendants of these peoples living in both the upper and lower Yakima Valley. -- ZILLAH The town of Zillah lies on a high bluff just north of the Yakima River, four miles northeast of Toppenish. It is located in the heart of the fruit growing section of the Yakima Valley. The area is irrigated by the Sunnyside Canal. Zillah was named for the daughter of the president of the railroad, Mr. Oakes. Zillah is eighty feet above the level of the Yakima River, which flows south of Zillah through the valley. The object lesson of irrigation is shown by the production of the beautiful fruit orchards, alfalfa fields, vineyards, and many other varieties of produce. Zillah was platted at the same time as Sunnyside. By 1893 there was a population of about fifty people. The railroad was brought to Zillah, completed in 1910, and by 1903 three churches were built. The first bank was constructed in 1909, schools built and other development took place. Three acres of ground was purchased by the Cemetery Assoc., and is located west of the city on a knoll. A large number of Germans from Russia settled in this area also, and by 1929, according to Polk's Yakima City and County Directory of 1929, the precinct population was 900. It was the oldest fruit section in the state and was on the main line of the OWR&N and NP railways. Many crops were raised there, however fruit was and is the main industry. All branches of business are represented. Two cold storage plants, among the largest in the state are located there for fruit and vegetables. Other Settlements in the Yakima Valley The following information is taken from Polk's Yakima City and County Directory dated 1929. Cowiche. Located 13 miles west of Yakima, had a precinct population of 900. Donald. Located on the NP and OWR&N line had a population of 100. Fruit was shipped from this point as well as hops. Gromore. A village 11 miles southwest of Yakima, served by the Yakima Valley Transportation Railroad. Harrah. Nine miles west of Wapato. Had a grocery store, several garages, creamery, blacksmith, billiards, general merchandise, barber, lumber company, and grocery store. It was on the Yakima Valley Transit stage line. Outlook. Had a population of 200. It had two churches, schools, a bank and general store. It had a stage twice daily with the fare to Sunnyside 25 cents. It had a Railway Express Agency and on the UW Teleg Co. Parker. This community was served by the Oregon-Washington Telephone Company, the Railway Express Agency and the UW Teleg. In 1929 it had a population of 150 and is located 7 1/2 miles south of Yakima. Tieton. Had a population of 300. Had a bank, a Presbyterian Church, Railway Express Agency, Inc., and Telephone Company. Large shipments of hay, grain and other produce left this area. Yakima. Was a growing metropolitan city with a population of 27,438 and covering 2,515 acres. It had the amenities of the larger cities in the United States, having churches, schools, hospitals, a modern library, streetcar system, which was 10 miles in length, had sewers, gas mains, etc. Yakima served 100,000 people in a trading area extending 40 miles north and 100 miles south. Yakima is still growing with the latest population near 60,000, geographically the center of the state, shipping large quantities of fruit and produce to all parts of the nation and world daily. The Yakima Valley has a blend of ethnic groups, each contributing to the quality of life we now enjoy. U & I Sugar Companies in the Yakima Valley With sugar beets and the sugar beet industry playing a large part in the lives of the Germans from Russia in the valley, it was thought fitting to include a little about the factories in the valley. At one time there were three such factories in the area, the first one was built at Union Gap in 1917. The second at Toppenish in 1919 and the third one in Sunnyside, also built at the same time. The White Fly infestation and Curly Top disease in the beets in the early years hampered production somewhat. During the 1917 campaign, which saw 600 growers planting over 6500 acres, Curly Top disease infected the crop so that only 4,356 acres were harvested. During the 1918 campaign White Fly infestation resulted in the production of 78,777 bags of sugar, compared to 118,624 in 1917. The plant was then closed and in 1925 the machinery was moved to Chinook, Montana, the building used for storage. The factory at Toppenish was built using machinery from the Grants Pass, Oregon factory. Crops in that area were also affected by the Curly Top disease, and although the plant was scheduled to open in 1918, did not until 1919. In 1920 the district became plagued with the White Fly and production declined continually until 1924. The plant was then closed and the machinery moved to Bellingham, WA. The Sunnyside factory had a similar fate, inadequate crops caused the suspension in the work when 85% completed. The plant was only in operation one year, 1919 during which campaign only 36,000 bags of sugar was manufactured. This plant was also closed with the machinery moved to Raymond, Alberta, Canada in 1925. In 1937, machinery from the Moroni, Utah factory and Honeyville and Lehi plants was shipped to Toppenish and a "new" factory was built. This time it was more profitable and in 1947 boasted the longest operating season of any U & I factory, 182 days. This factory became the most profitable enterprise of U & I, the plant was increased and additional farmland was given over to the growing of sugar beets. By 1950 the factory produced 1,184,353 bags of sugar. This plant operated until 1978 when it was closed due to the low price of sugar, the 1978- 79 campaign was the last one for U & I in the Yakima Valley. Information for the above article was taken from "Beet Sugar in the West, a History of the Utah-ldaho Sugar Company, 1891- 1966 by Leonard J. Arrington " ---------- CHAPTER III CHURCHES WHERE THEY WORSHIPPED "Blest be the tie that binds..." -- Calvary Lutheran Church May 6, 1989 the Calvary Lutheran Church in Sunnyside celebrated its 50th anniversary. Organize(i in 1939 it has served many people in various ways, in times of happiness and also in times of sorrow. It's history goes back a number of years before 1939, when the Lutherans in the Lower Yakima Valley were served by pastors from Yakima and Wapato. As early as 1914, Pastor Weert Janssen of Bethlehem Lutheran of Yakima, worked in this area. Through his efforts the first regular services in the Mabton-Prosser parish were conducted. Pastor John R. Westendorf of Wapato next served the group followed by Pastor E. Hellwege of Wapato. The increase of newcomers from the middle west in the early 1930s increased attendance so that services were started in Sunnyside with Pastor Hellwege serving in September, 1936. In 1936, under the work of Candidate M. Juengel, interest grew and attendance rose in such proportions in Sunnyside that in 1939 the District advised combining the Mabton and Sunnyside parishes. This was done under the guidance of Pastor Hellwege. Church services were held in the Episcopal Church and during the summer in the city park. From the records it seems that the following are the Charter members of the congregation: Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Baumgarten Mr. Fred Baumgarten Mr. Wilber Baumgarten Mrs. J. Deyo Mr. & Mrs. Henry Hellbusch Mr. & Mrs. Jacob J. Henne Mr. Fred Hereth Mr. David Hergett Mr. & Mrs. Clarence Holtz Mr. & Mrs. A. Kurpgeweit Mr. A. Kluth Mr. Alfred Kurpgeweit Mr. & Mrs. August Liefke Mr. & Mrs. Julius Rath Mr. Emanuel Resner Mr. & Mrs. W. G. Schlonga Mr. & Mrs. Dan Stetner Mr. Ed Wascher Worship services were held in the Seventh Day Adventist Church shortly after September 1939 and was the regular place of worship until the spring of 1948 when the congregation erected the Parish Hall on Harrison Avenue and 11th Street. By 1952, the congregation had grown so that a larger building was needed, a committee was appointed to study the situation and ground was broken for a new church June 23, 1957. The dedication was held February 9, 1958. Pastor Puttler, at the 40th Anniversary, quoting Psalm 127 said "unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain". -- Church of God Seventh Day The following was written by William Heuer. In the summer of 1947, I, Wm. Heuer, was working along with Elder Foster holding revival meetings along with him in the Tacoma church. When the revival closed, Elder Foster offered to take me on a trip to Goldendale, stopping over the Sabbath in Toppenish where there were two Church of God Sisters. In the afternoon we managed to get the two Sisters to meet in Sister Kutch's home. Elder Foster asked me to speak. It appears that Sister Reich was taken to me from the very beginning, possibly the reason being that I was able to converse with her in her mother tongue (German). In visiting with her, I told her we, my wife and two daughters, were making plans to leave Canada and move to Washington. She exacted a promise from me that we would consider moving to the Yakima Valley, so we made this a matter of prayer. Finally, the decision was made. After selling our dairy farm in Canada we headed for the Yakima Valley. We rented a motel unit in which we lived for the first month, seeking direction from the Lord concerning our next move. As I had met the two church members who lived in Toppenish, I suggested that we go and visit them and inquire if they had any relatives whom we could visit and invite to attend the meetings which we planned to hold. We managed to rent a hall in Toppenish so we went to visit the one Sister telling her of our plans. Sister Reich went with us from one home to another, in fact, we spent the whole afternoon visiting her relatives and friends, being much in prayer, seeking the good Lord for guidance that we may make a good impression upon inviting them to attend our meeting on the Sabbath. On the Sabbath we waited expectantly and behold on our very first Sabbath we had forty some souls out for meeting. How we praised God for this. We continued having our Sabbath meetings in the Hall which we had rented, while during the week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings we would have cottage meetings at Grandma Reich's home. Towards spring we managed to rent the building which the church later purchased and still occupies on the corner of Washington and Fir in Toppenish, WA. Toward spring we had our first converts with many being baptized into Christ Jesus. Thus the church continued to operate with members being added by the Lord. (Edit. Note: Even though this church was not organized until 1947 many of those members are of German from Russia descent.) -- Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church The organization of the Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Toppenish took place November 1, 1936 with 32 charter members. Two of these members, Amelia Adolph and Lydia Tyacke, are still active members in the church today. One of the primary objectives in the setting up of this church was of a missionary cause. It's aim was to serve the Indian population in the valley. It was established by the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. When the mission did not receive adequate support, Mr. Gus Adolph appealed to the Northwest District of the American Lutheran Church for support. A trip by the Rev. L. Ludwig of Portland, Oregon was made to Toppenish, support was granted for help on this mission as a result of his visit. Their first services were held in a variety of homes, halls and other churches The first pastor from 1936 to 1940 was Pastor Frederick Geiswinkler. In November 1939 the new church was dedicated, a new parsonage was built. A Christian kindergarten was started, a senior choir was established, Bethel Bible studies were held. In 1975, Faith joined four local Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations in sponsoring Pastor Ed Brandt as a missionary to the Mexican-Americans in the Yakima Valley. In 1986 Faith Lutheran Church celebrated it's 50th Anniversary. The missionary work has continued to the present time in Toppenish, Wapato and Yakima. An active Hispanic youth group is carried on in Wapato. A vital ministry to the Hispanic Lutheran population in the valley is carried on with this important work. -- Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church On October 22, 1905, the German Evangelical Grace Lutheran Church of North Yakima was organized. Pastor Gerhard A. Ernest of Tacoma conducted the first service on the same day. The newly organized congregation immediately called Pastor John Ebert. He served the congregation until 1907. Until then the services were held in the Sunday School rooms of the First Presbyterian Church. It was soon evident that a church building was necessary. With much effort and diligence a new church was dedicated on May 31, 1908. In the fall of 1910 they erected a parsonage. Also in that year a young people's society was organized. Since 1913 the ladies of the congregation had been meeting once each month, they found many ways and means to contribute to the general good of the congregation. Even though the Germans from Russia were not the founders of Grace Lutheran Church, they soon became a large number and a vital part of it's growth. Since early 1975 Grace Congregation has been engaged in radio ministry, the Lord has blessed this ministry. The church has a Wicks Pipe Organ which has a total of six ranks of pipes. Also to be noted here is the "Bell". The history would not be complete without the mention of the bell. Grace Lutheran Church has a bell in the tower, it was given to the church by Mrs. Ernestine Gross in 1923. It still serves the purpose of summoning all the people to worship service and the custom of the tolling after the sermon was to invite the sick to join in prayer. In 1980 Grace Lutheran Church celebrated 75 years of Grace. -- Hope Lutheran Church In 1920 on January 30th, the Hope congregation at Wapato began it's organization. A month later they adopted a constitution. In 1928 the congregation became a member of the Synod of Missouri. By the year 1944 they became a self-supporting church. Before and during the organization they were led by Rev. W. J. Janssen. The first class of Confirmation was in 1923, consisting of fourteen members under Rev. Paul Born. The first baptismal was Heinrich Zier on September 4, 1922, he was the son of Christ and Elizabeth Zier. The first marriage was George Kaiser, from Wapato and Elizabeth Mailing of Sunnyside, on October 14, 1922. Hope Lutheran Church was an active and growing church. An important part was the Ladies of the church; they still fill that role. By the year 1937 the membership totaled one hundred sixty. By 1944 a rebuilt and remodeled church edifice was dedicated. A new church dedication was held May 27, 1956 under Rev. H. A. Kahle. The excellent records of the early marriages, births, confirmation and burials of Hope Lutheran Church were a big help in putting together some of the family stories. It also, they shows the continuity of the place the church had in the family life as was the tradition in Russia, this heritage our forefathers brought with them to the new land in which they made their permanent home. -- Pilgrim Congregational Church The Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato dates it's beginnings in 1920. The first organizational meeting was with six charter member families. Rev. Gottfried Gradel and Rev. Gustave Heuer of Walla Walla, met with three families: John Borgens, George Kissler and J. George Pister, Sr., they were immigrant families from Russia of German ancestry. The first organizational meeting was held at the John Borgens home in Wapato. An accurate list of the charter members is not available due to their destruction in a fire. This group held it's first services in homes until they rented a small building that had been used as a schoolhouse. The first resident pastor was Rev. J. V. Smith; during his pastorate the first church building was erected. Soon it was necessary to plan for bigger and better facilities. It was in the year 1949 that the new church was built and dedicated and the old building was moved off the property. After the formation of the church it wasn't long and the Ladies Society was organized. They became a vital part of the church. Sunday was taken up with Sunday School, prayer meeting in the afternoon and the youth meeting in the evening. Prayer was held every Wednesday evening, also choir rehearsal was held one night a week. When the youth reached the eligible age they went to Confirmation classes and were Confirmed, usually at the Easter season. For many years the Worship Services were held in the German language, later on in both German and English. In the 1940's the German was discontinued. During the 1960s the Pilgrim Congregational Church was brought out of the Congregational movement, making it an independent church. Members of Pilgrim Congregational Church at Wapato, 1932: Adams, John Adler, Henry Becker, Phillip Bender, Henry Besel, John Blum, Henry Borgens, George Dietz, John Ditter, Conrad Eichler, William Frank, Phillip Funkner, Michael Hardung, Jacob Hinzman, John Kihlthau, John Kissler, George Knopp, John Koch, Conrad Koch, Alexander Koch, John Kinsfather, Lass, Peter Lesser, Conrad Litzenberg, Alex Miller, Adam Miller, Conrad Miller, Frederick Nafts, William Pister, George Pister, Jacob Roth, Henry Ruth, Peter Rutt, George Schanzenbach, J.D. Schaffer, Phillip Schreiner, Heinrich Schultz, Wilhelm Sinner, Henry Spitzer, Fred E. Streich, George Treise, Alexander Wassemiller, Alex Wertenberger, Henry Wertenberger, George Woitt, George Woitt, Jacob -- St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Toppenish The first Catholic Church in the area was brought into being by Jesuit priests in 1 899 when a mission church was opened. About 1908 the parish was formed and in 1909 a frame church was dedicated. This church building served the people of Toppenish for almost forty years when it was re-located across the street and a new brick church was built. In 1950 the little white church was given a second life, this time as the parish hall in which capacity it served until it was destroyed by fire July 4th, 1990 at 10:30 p.m., due to fireworks. The present church includes an educational wing and rectory. PICTURES: Confirmation picture, German Congregational Church, Sunnyside, Wa. Back row, I-r: Pastor from Walla Walla, Roland Raab, Helen Radach, Kenneth Redinger, Ruth Radach, Robert Radach, Pastor Weise Front row: Patty Hall (?), Vernon Redinger, Joyce Redinger, Viola Raab Confirmation picture, Maple Grove School House, 1939, Sunnyside, Wa. Back row: (?) Frank, Raymond Piel, Raymond Schaal, Walt Bender. Front row: Alice Elizabeth Martin, Elsie Leman, Rev. George Kissler, Helen Marie Martin, Louella Schaal (Esther?) 1924 Confirmation Class, Wapato Lutheran Church Back row: Alex Merck, (?) Kettleson, Esther Kettleson from Zillah, Millie Michaelis, Lydia Gomer, Pauline Kaiser, George Michaelis, Dave (?) from Moxee and Pastor Jensen from Yakima. Front row: Annie Dewald, Olga Beek, Marie Stenzel, Ida Rompel, Katie Hilderman, Molly Koch, (?) Hilderman and (?) Stroh from Wapato. Elias Miller not pictured. Pilgrim Congregational Church, Confirmation Class, April 13,1930 Back row: Alex Litzenberg, Raymond Koch, Christian Roth, Ray Wertenberger, William Frank, Reinhold Eichler, Carl Koch, Arthur Borgens, Henry Lesser. Middle row: Alvin Bauer, Ben Kissler, Alfred Woitt, Frieda Heberlein, Leona Wertenberger, Otto Blume, John Kinsfather, Arthur Linker, Harry Triese, George Pister. Front row: Elsie Blume, Lydia Frank, Florence Bauer, Lydia Schreiner, Lydia Litzenberg, Rev. Ricker, Helen Borgens, Frieda Treise, Hanna Eichler, Frieda Eichler, Molly Heberlein. 1935 Confirmation Class, Wapato Pilgrim Congregational Church Back row: Reuben Keppler, Ed Besel, Carl Pister, Reuben Sinner, Willie Bloome, Alfred Kinsfather, Levene Koch, Roy Knopp. Middle row: Elsie Litzenberg, Martha Lesser, Esther Pister, Reuben Pister, Katherine Litzenberg, Henry Bender, Bob Hurk, Adam Miller, David Keppler, Martha Eichler, Helen Woitt. Front row: Evelyn Naft, Lillian Knopp, Esther Lesser, Marie Roth, Pastor Keppler, Mary Frank, Emaline Ditter, Esther Naft. 1936 Confirmation Class, Wapato Pilgrim Congregational Church Back row: William Bender, Robert Martin, (?) Snyder, Freda Loss. Front row: Clara Peil, Millie Groff, Rev. George Kissler, Dora Lang, Martha Miller (?) 1941 Confirmation Class, Wapato Pilgrim Congregational Church Back row: Helen Pister, Ruby Knopp, Clara Kinsfather (?), Alfred Kinsfather, Eugene Koch, Wilma Kihlthau, Marian Sinner. Front row: Lou Ella Koch, Esther Sinner, Pastor George Kissler, (?) Green, Nina Litzenberger. ---------- CHAPTER 1V BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES AND PICTURES -- ABEL George, born in Russia in 1872, immigrated to the U.S. prior to 1900. According to the 1910 census of Yakima County, he was naturalized in 1898. The census of 1910 shows that his wife's age was 35, so the year of her birth was 1875, born in Russia. The children listed were: Christina age 13, born in Russia; Catherine, born in 1900 in South Dakota; Matilda, born in 1902 in North Dakota; Francisco, born in 1905 in North Dakota. As this census was taken in 1910, it means that they came to the Yakima Valley during the years 1905 - 1910. [1910 Yakima County Census] -- ACHZIGER Adam and his wife, Katherine Reim, were both born in Russia, age of Adam not known, Katherine was born in 1883. When they immigrated to U.S. they lived for a number of years in Montana, moving to the Yakima Valley in 1922. Their children were: Ted, born July 22, 1910 at Bridger, Mt., he married Alvinetts West, August 4, 1930; Adam born May 5, 1915 at Fromberg, Mt.; Samuel born November 15, 1916 at Belfry, Mt., he married Dorothy Tuttle, Feb. 12, 1939; Frederick born Sept. 18, 1918 at Bridger, Mt.; Mary born July 5, 1920 at Bridger, Mt., she married James O'Daniel Dec. 21, 1939; Clarence; Elza born Sept. 14, 1924, died when the family lived at Harrah, Nov. 2, 1924. The five oldest children were confirmed in the Hope Lutheran Church at Wapato, the family lived at Prosser, Wa. Adam preceded Katherine in death, she lived to the age of 85, died Nov. 5, 1989. She was a member of the Messiah Lutheran Church at Prosser. [YHR] -- ACKERMAN Gottfried, born near Odessa, Russia in 1872. His parents were Jacob Ackerman and Katherine Halzer. Gottfried married Catherine Heisler, she was from the same area as he was, she was born in 1878. Two children were born to them in Russia, Gottfried and Rose. The boy died at the age of two years in Russia. In 1899 they immigrated to the U.S. and settled at Karlsruhe, North Dakota. They acquired a homestead and farmed the land. At Karlsruhe, he obtained his citizenship. During the years they lived there, twelve more children were born to them. The children are: Katherine born in 1900, married Leo Marklinger. She had moved to Canada, and died at Tisdale, Saskatchewan. Margaret born in 1902, moved to California where she died. Louis born January 29, 1904 married Eva Mary Abel, he died Nov. 4, 1979 at Yakima, WA. Jacob born August 10, 1906, married while in North Dakota, moved to Yakima in 1936. He worked as a gardener, a butler for R. M. Hardy and he also worked as a shipwright and school maintenance. He died May 22, 1986. Christine, born July 10, 1908. Married Jacob Heit (he was born October 22, 1905). They also moved to Yakima in 1936. Jacob died October 6, 1987. Christine lives in Yakima in her own home. Alma born in Karlsruhe, date unknown, she died Nov. 1926. John born April 7, 1912. Married Ethel Hirengen, he was a farmer, and died January 24, 1980. Annie age not known lived in North Dakota.; and Regarda, the family has lost track of her. Wilhelm died in infancy. Nicholas also died in infancy. Edward lives in Yakima at the present time. Gottfried and Catherine moved to the Yakima Valley in 1936 along with other family members. Most of these families were laborers who did farm work. They were of the Catholic faith. Gottfried and Catherine are both deceased and interred in Calvary Cemetery in Yakima [Information from Christine Heit 1988 - By Frieda Brulotte] -- ADAM John born at Neu Norka, Russia on July 22, 1892, immigrated to the U.S. with his parents. He married Elizabeth Lienweber, daughter of Henry Lienweber and Elizabeth Mary Wagner. She was born at Pine Island, New York on March 12, 1902. The Lienweber family settled in Colorado and then moved on to Nebraska, where Elizabeth was raised and educated. They made their living by farming. John and Elizabeth were married July 3, 1919 in Nebraska where they farmed for six years. From there they moved to Milwaukee, then back to Nebraska. In 1938 they moved to the Yakima Valley where they once again farmed. They lived at Ashue, and also at Toppenish until retirement. The Adams were members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church. John was a veteran of WWI. Their children were: sons, Al, Donald and Elmer, daughters: Anna, Mary, Esther, Lucille, Shirley, Eileen and Rachel. John died June 25, 1970 and Elizabeth March 7, 1988. Both are buried in Reservation Community Memorial Park. [YHR] -- ADLER Conrad, born in Kolb, Russia on January 4, 1901. His parents were Jacob and Katherine Adler. He immigrated to the U.S. with his parents in 1909 at the age of 8 years. The family settled in Nebraska. He married Maude Hamblet in 1921. They lived in California before moving to the Yakima Valley. Katherine preceded Conrad in death, she died on June 25, 1957. He married his second wife, Emma Jane Laurent on July 26, 1958. He worked as a sheet metal foreman for Central Steel and Tank Co. until his retirement. He died May 11, 1983. His survivors were his wife, Emma, a daughter, Betty, four stepsons, and three brothers, John, Fred and Jake. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Katherine and two sisters. Emma died at age 86, she was born at Moxee, WA., and was a member of St. Joseph's Parish in Yakima. [YHR] -- ALBERT Margaret, born at Odessa, Russia in 1890. She was a teenager when they immigrated to the U.S. in 1906. Her family name was Schaefer. They settled at Bismark, North Dakota, where she was married to Mr. Buechler. They had three sons, and six daughters. Mr. Buechler preceded her in death. Her second marriage was to Clement Albert. They lived in Prosser from 1935 to 1965, then moved to Pasco, WA. Margaret died on November 21, 1971 at Pasco. She was survived by Mr. Albert. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. [YHR] -- ALBRECHT Lydia, born in Gnadenfelt, Russia in 1903. This family moved to the U.S. and settled at Lind, WA., where they were wheat ranchers. She married Jacob Herrmann on January 19, 1920 in Odessa, Wa. They farmed in that area until he died in 1935. On November 24, 1936, Lydia married Christian Albrecht, in Seattle, Wa. The lived on the western side of the state where they owned and operated a dairy. In 1943, they moved to Sunnyside, and again went into the dairy business until they retired in 1961. Christian died in June 1981, Lydia in November 1983. She was survived by two daughters and five sons. The daughters were: Mrs. Betty Wehrit of Alderwood Manor and Mrs. Helen Manka of Auburn; sons: Chris and Joe Albrecht of Sunnyside, Al Albrecht of Grandview, Walter Herrmann of Lynnwood and Victor Herrmann of Soap Lake, WA. She was also survived by a sister, Mrs. Bob (Ella) Kelly; three brothers; Fred, Emil and Albert Zihn all of Olympia. [SFH] -- ALBRECK Mike, born in Russia to Mike and Marie Albreck on July 26, 1897. He came to the U.S. with his parents as a child. They settled in Idaho, where he received his early education. He entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1917, and was stationed in China for eight years. After his military service he returned to Washington and settled at Walla Walla where he worked in the grain and pea industry. In 1928 he came to Wapato, worked in the fruit and produce industry until retirement. He died January 8, 1985, he was a member of the Wapato American Legion. [YHR] -- ALBRIGHT/ALBRECHT Michael, born in Russia on November 15, 1863. He immigrated with his family to U.S. in 1910. He was married to Marie Yagle, aka Elizabeth. She was born in Russia on August 12, 1865. When they immigrated to America they had two small sons and were expecting a child. Oldest son, Mike was born July 26, 1897; second son, John was born in 1906. The expected child was William, he was born in Germany on January 7, 1909. Later they had another son, Alex. The boys were raised in the Yakima Valley. The family were members of Hope Lutheran Church in Wapato. Michael (father) died on August 3, 1936 and Marie on July 11, 1945. Their son Mike's story is under his name. Son William died July 18, 1979. He had been employed by the Wapato School District until his retirement in 1970. His survivors were two sons: Don of Wapato and Tony of Seattle. He was preceded in death by his wife Molly, she had been born in Russia July 7, 1909. She died in May 1968. Their son, James, was killed in a car accident in 1969.[MFH/YHR] -- ANDREAS Anthony F., born in Russia in 1906, he was the son of John Andreas and Mary Marten. The family came to the U.S. in the early l900s, Anthony was a small child. They came to the Yakima Valley in 1919. He and Flora Zimmerman, daughter of George Zimmerman and Theresa Schlick were married. She was born in Russia on December 27, 1892, she and her family had lived in this state since 1911. Flora died at the young age of 45, (May 11, 1937). Anthony died on July 3, 1969. He was a member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. He was survived by three sons Joseph, John and Anthony, three daughters; Mary, Edith and Wilhelmina, a brother, John and three sisters, Barbara Dahmen, Elizabeth Dahmen and Clara Keller. [MFH/YHR] -- ANDREAS Anthony F. Andreas, 83 years of age, died at Yakima in June of 1969. Mr. Andreas was born in Russia and had made his home in the Yakima Valley since 1919. He was a member of the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. He was survived by three sons, Joseph, John and Anthony; three daughters, Mary Henke, Edith Oswalt and Wilhelmina King; a brother, John; and three sisters, Barbara Dahmen, Elizabeth Dahmen and Clara Keller. [YHR] -- ANDREAS Ava Mary Andreas, who was born October 16, 1858 in Russia, died September 26, 1934 at Sunnyside. Her husband was Joseph Andreas. She was the daughter of Michael Shipley and Bridgeta Smith also from Russia. She was a member of the Catholic Church and is buried in the Catholic Cemetery at Sunnyside. [Ball FH] -- ANDREAS My dad, Daniel J. Andreas, was 12 years old when his family immigrated to the United States in 1912 from Odessa, Russia. They first lived in Kansas and then moved to Quincy, Washington before moving to Germantown in the Yakima Valley. Joseph and Marie (Schneible) Andreas, my grandparents, had five children, all born in Russia; Roy, Frank, Tony, Elizabeth and my dad. Dad married Marie Mastel November 29, 1922 at Toppenish. She was the daughter of Balthasar and Elizabeth (Wingerter) Mastel, and was almost a year old when the family emigrated from Russia. My folks had four children; Edward, myself (Hilda), Arlene and Margaret. Dad worked for many years as a seasonal worker for Washington Nursery, later working full time followed by becoming partners with Mr. Bertram Sturm who owned the business. They were partners for many years and then dad bought the Washington Nursery when Mr. Sturm died. They raised a variety of seedling fruit and shade trees at the nursery. They also raised sage which they sold to Spice Island in San Francisco. They were one of the few people in the valley that raised sage. Dad was quite an inventor, he didn't patent anything, but he and Mr. Sturm invented a sorting machine for the sage. It was quite ingenious as it sorted the sage from the stems. Uncle Roy and Uncle Tony were basically farmers and farmed in the Sunnyside area. Uncle Roy became a carpenter and contractor and had men working for him. Uncle Tony married Bertha Heilman who was the daughter of Mathias and Magdalena (Wingardner) Heilman. They were married in Toppenish, November 24, 1915. Bertha had immigrated with her family in 1898 going first to Bowdle, South Dakota, then Ritzville before moving to Yakima and then Toppenish where they settled in Germantown. They had several children, among them were Daniel A. who was born in 1918; Rose (Reppeto), Mary (Teel), Floyd and Frank. Daniel married Clara Wentz September 9, 1939 in Toppenish. Uncle Tony went to work for Washington Nursery in 1944-45 and worked there until his retirement in 1965 due to ill health. Dad died in 1973 at Toppenish. He was a member of St. Aloysius Church and the Knights of Columbus. He is buried at Elmwood Cemetery. [Information from Hilda (Andreas) Barthlow - By Louise Potter] -- ANDREAS Flora, the daughter of George Zimmerman and Theresa Schlick, died May 11, 1937. She was married to Anthony Andreas and resided at Wapato. She had lived in this state 26 years. She is buried at Calvary Cemetery. She was born in Russia, December 17, 1892. [MFH] -- ARNDT Samuel, born in Romania on February 28, 1879. With his wife, Sophie he came to Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada. Sophie was born February 26, 1877. The Arndt's left Canada and moved to Portland, Oregon, then moved to the Yakima Valley in 1925. A son, Paul was born in Canada on December 29, 1917. He married Dorothy Wolfe on December 20, 1941 in Naches. He was a member of the Tieton Grange. Paul died January 28, 1983. Another son, Daniel was born at Leader, Sask., Canada on May 10, 1919. He married Alba Critchlow in Idaho. They moved to the Tieton area and lived all of their married lives there. They belonged to the William Wharton Post #379 of the VFW. Daniel died September 30, 1985. He was a general laborer for fruit companies. His wife, Alba died in 1973. Samuel died June 8, 1932, buried in Tahoma Cemetery. Other children born to them were, Harold, Ben and Hilda (Kroger) all from the Tieton or Yakima Area. [YHR] -- ARNOLD Christina Baker Arnold, wife of John Arnold. She was born December 24, 1883 in Russia, the daughter of Christoph Baker and Christiana Koch. She died October 17, 1955 in Prosser.[B] -- BACHMEER Frank, born at Odessa, Russia on July 13, 1875. No information on when he came to the U.S. He married Nellie Keller, she was born in Odessa, Russia and came to the U.S. at age 4 (1887) to Devil's Lake, North Dakota. She married Frank Bachmeier and they moved to the Yakima Indian Reservation, living near Harrah, WA. They purchased deeded land, which they farmed. They had three sons, Joseph of Yakima, Adam and Felix of Wapato and one daughter Louise Gagner of Tacoma. Frank died on February 9, 1940 and is buried in the Calvary Cemetery in Yakima, Wa. Nellie died December 4, 1978, Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home had charge of funeral arrangements. She residing in Yakima after her husband died, she was a member of St. Paul's Cathedral. She was 95 years old. [YHR] -- BAEHM Paul, born in Russia in 1880, died on October 9, 1962 at Yakima, Wa., he is interred in Calvary Cemetery, Yakima. He married Elizabeth ? who was born at Odessa, Russia in 1882. She came to the U.S. in 1902 and to Yakima in 1914 from North Dakota. She was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church and died on December 22, 1967. Survivors are a son, George and two daughters, Mrs. W. D. Lyon, Jr., and Mrs. Catherine Allwardt. She is buried in Calvary Cemetery. [YHR] -- BALZER On September 13, 1941, Fred II and Eva (Mickell) Balzer, my grandparents, came to the John Besel homestead near Toppenish from Hardin, Montana with their family of four sons and five daughters. They had two more daughters, one born in Wapato in 1942 and the other in Yakima in 1944. Fred went looking for work as soon as possible and found a job with William Gasseling, Sr., who owned a hop ranch in the Wapato area; he also worked for Leo Gasseling. The family moved to Wapato and lived different places there, finally moving to one of the Gasseling houses on Lateral C between Evans Road and Progressive. He worked for Gasseling until his death in July of 1962, Eva worked in the hop fields too. Fred Balzer II was born April 16, 1901 at Wiesenmuller, Russia. He came to the United States with his parents, Fredrich and Maria Katharina (Liechtenwalt) Balzer on the SS Friesland, arriving at Philadelphia April 16, 1911. They too were born at Wiesenmuller. My grandfather was nine years old when they emigrated, his brother, Georg, was 3. Grandfather became a citizen of the United States in July of 1938 at Billings, Montana. Eva and her family emigrated in March of 1913 through the port of New York. The Balzer's went to a brother at Kansas City, Kansas. Eva was born November 28, 1901 at Dietel, Russia. My grandfather died July 9, 1962 and is buried at Reservation Memorial Cemetery on West Wapato Road. My dad, Fred III, came to Washington with his parents in 1941 and returned to Forsyth, Montana to work on his uncle's farm, Henry and Elizabeth (Popp) Mickell. In February of 1944, he returned by train to the Wapato area with his wife, Emma, and daughter, Barbara, from Ballantine, Montana. Dad had a job waiting for him with Bill Gasseling, Jr. and worked for him a few years before going to work for Cal Pack in Toppenish. Our family moved to a farm on Parton Road, next to Ruth Parton, near Toppenish, later moving to Toppenish. They had four more daughters and two sons, one son died in December of 1944. Dad was born December 11, 1921 at Hysham, Montana and died May 27, 1978 at Yakima. He is buried at Tahoma Cemetery. He was married February 15,1943 at Greeley, Colorado to Emma Mickell who was born January 30, 1926 at Hysham, Montana. [By Barbara (Balzer) Drake] --BASGALL My dad, Jacob Basgall, was French and German and my mother, Katherine E. (Kress) Basgall, was Irish and German, both born in Odessa, R. Their parents had come from another country and settled in Odessa. My mother's parents died when mother was very young so she didn't get too much of the story. My mother's stepfather was John Kress, we didn't know her real name. Dad's name was spelled Bosgal on the passport. Dad was 33 when he came over in 1909. His brother, John, lived at Silver Springs, Colorado and they settled there. There were a lot of Basgalls there. John later returned to Russia where he starved to death. Dad and Mom owned their farm and sold it to come to America, coming just before the Revolution. They moved to Montana and dad worked on the railroad and for the steel mill, then to the Yakima Valley in 1918 where he did emigrant work, working on various farms. They settled in Toppenish and he worked for Charlie Bolin and Benz for years, and then my brother-in-law, Frank Covelli, had a farm and he worked there. My folks had three children in Russia; Anna, Bertha and Catherine. Anna became very ill and the nearest doctor was about 100 miles away. Virginia said that her dad ran the horse to death trying to get Anna to the doctor in time but that she died, they thought it was pneumonia. Their children were Anna, Catherine Moore, Bertha Cigarroa, Margaret O'Neil, John, Joe, Leava Linker, Frank, Virginia LaPierre, and Tony. My folks were married in 1895. I remember them saying that when they got to America dad took the clothes off the children and said "Thank God, that's the last of Russia". My dad went to school through the sixth grade, but mother never had a chance to. Dad could speak several languages; he said that it was a beautiful country where they had lived, they could raise watermelons and almost anything but the winters were terrible, the snow came up to the second floor and it got awfully cold. They were citizens of the United States and members of the St. Aloysius Church, buried at Elmwood Cemetery, Toppenish. [Information by Virginia LaPierre - By Louise Potter - CFH] -- BASSELL Mary, born at Kassell, Russia in 1896, came to Yakima in 1936. Mrs. Bassell attended the Central Assembly of God Church. Her family name was Eberhardt, lived in Alberta Province, Canada, probably at Medicine Hat, was married in Canada. urvivors are three daughters and three sons, two brothers, Louie of Ontario, CA, and Rudolph of Three Hills, Alberta, Canada. Three half brothers, John, Otto and Ray. She also had three half sisters. She died April 16, 1974, Shaw and Sons were in charge of funeral arrangements. [SHAW & SONS] -- BATES Charles Bates was born July 1O, 1879 in Russia, the son of John Bates. He died April 21, 1946 at Toppenish, having lived in the area for 25 years. He was a farmer and lived at 506 S. Division in Toppenish. He is buried at Elmwood Cemetery. [CFH] -- BAUER George, born in Russia May 4, 1870, was the son of Henry Bauer and Elizabeth Yost. His wife was Margaret ?. He died October 21, 1924, funeral arrangements by Sourwine Funeral Home (now Merritt Funeral Home) at Wapato. He was interred at Portland, Oregon. [MFH] -- BAUMGARTNER Anton A. born at Odessa, Russia in 1893, came to the U.S. at age of two with his parents. They made their home at Strasburg, North Dakota where he was raised and educated. He and the late Adelaide Rohrich were married in Strasburg in 1910, they were farmers. Moved to Bremerton in 1942 and worked there until retirement in 1953 when they moved to Yakima. Anton died November 9, 1977 and is survived by four sons and four daughters. [LMFH] -- BEAK The story of Samuel and Rebecca Beak is taken from the early history of Zillah. The author of the article is Sadie (Beak) Phillips. Rebecca Beak was born in Kolb, Russia in 1882. In 1898 at the age of sixteen, she came to the United States with her parents and twelve brothers and sisters. The family came by ship, landing in New York from there they came west by train to Ritzville, Washington, where they had relatives. Samuel Beak was also born in Kolb, Russia. Came to the United States a few months later. Part of his family settled in North Dakota, but he decided on Ritzville. On September 1900, Samuel and Rebecca were married and lived in Ritzville for a time. Then they moved to Warden, Washington on a farm where their six children were born. In 1912 Mrs. Beak was left a widow with children, and the youngest daughter, Sadie was nine months old. Mr. Beak was killed when he was thrown from a wagon load of hay that was being pulled by a runaway team of horses. With the help of the older children she tried her luck at farming. In time she met a young man by the name of John Henke. In 1914, Rebecca and John were married and they and the children moved to a farm near Ralston, Washington. After two years, their son Emanuel was born. That marriage ended in divorce. Rebecca and her family of seven children moved to a farm several miles from the small town of Paha, Washington. The family raised a garden and any youngster who was old enough to work helped in the garden, as well as in fields. They depended on a windmill for the water supply for the animals as well as for domestic use. They did their studying by coal oil lamp. Henry Roth and Rebecca were married in 1920. She and her children moved to a country home near Ralston, Washington, where Henry was farming. On February 18, 1922, Rebecca and Henry became parents of a son, Alvin Raymond. In the fall of 1922, Rebecca and her three sons, Toby, Samuel and Gustav, came to Zillah by train, leaving the oldest daughter behind to care for the youngest members of the family, and the baby. Olga, Sadie and Emanuel were in school. Rebecca and her sons stayed with the Chris Romple family. He was a cousin of hers, and urged her to come to the valley to work in the fruit. After completing the prune and hop harvest, Rebecca and her sons were convinced that Zillah and its fruit was going to be a better way of life. After one winter in tents, Rebecca with the help of her oldest son, Toby bought a lot on the Bartley Highline addition from Dr. J.H. Bartley and Grace Bartley. Sandy Cameron and his family were living on this ground at the time. Later Dr. Bartley loaned Rebecca, seven hundred dollars to build a house on the property. Rebecca and her children worked in the fruit. Her pride and joy was her yard. She loved flowers and gardening until she was eighty years old. Her other pride and joy was the years her youngest son, Al Roth participated in school sports. Rebecca was born in Kolb, Russia January 1, 1882, she was the daughter of Gottlieb Schutz and Sophia Lobe. She was a member of the Congregational Church. She lived to the age of 93, died January 22, 1975. Survivors included three sons, Alvin Roth born February 18, 1922., Joe Beak of Auburn and Emanuel Henke of Puyallup, two daughters, Mrs. Sadie Phillips of Wapato and Mrs. Emma Rehm of Tacoma; two brothers Gottheilf Schutz, and Gottlieb Schutz and two sisters, Mrs. Louise Plager and Mrs. Barbara Grams, all of Ritzville, WA. Alvin died October 14, 1979, a son, Gustave Beak born in 1908 at Warden, died June 17, 1975; son Samuel born at Ritzville Jan. 31, 1904 died September 24, 1938. -- BECKER Gottlieb Becker, the son of Gottlieb Becker and Margaret Bechler was born May 8, 1902 in Russia. He died September 25, 1940 having lived in the state two years, five months. He was a farmhand. He was survived by nine children. [MM] -- BECKER John E., born in Russia on May 8, 1883. He was the son of Henry Becker. He married Katherine Sophia Frank, daughter of C. Frank and Katie Stumph. She was born June 13, 1884. The information on this family is limited from the sources that are available. They were farmers. John died February 28, 1937 and Katherine on June 9, 1939. Both are buried in Tahoma Cemetery at Yakima. They left five daughters. [MFH] -- BECKER John J. born in Russia in 1911. His parents immigrated to the U.S. when he was six months old. They settled first in North Dakota. In 1932 he married Irene Stalhnke, she was born on January 7, 1906 at St. Anthony, North Dakota. They moved to the Yakima Valley in 1941, he was a farmer and also worked with the highway construction firms. John died in 1976, Irene stayed in the Yakima area until 1979, she then went to live with her son in West Germany until 1981, since then with her son in California. Irene died July 16, 1982. [YHR] --BECKER Phillip, born at Friedenstahl, South Russia on May 9, 1877. He and Pauline Bechtholt were married in Russia, and had two children before they immigrated to the U.S. They settled in South Dakota, where Phillip worked as a handyman, such as house painting, repair etc. He was an excellent butcher, and worked for families with their seasonal butchering, which was the custom at that time. He and Pauline had seven children, six boys and one girl. Pauline died at a young age, she was 42, she had contracted tuberculosis. Phillip left South Dakota with his son, Robert in 1936, settling in Wapato, WA. He became a member of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. Robert (Bob) was born on August 8, 1911 in Eureka, S.D., he received his education in South Dakota, and joined the Civilian Conservation Corp during the depression, working near Mount Rushmore in South Dakota's Black Hills. In Wapato he met and married Erna Schanzenbach, Nov. 23, 1939 in Wapato's Pilgrim Congregational Church. They were long time members of that church. Erna was the musician for the church and choir and held other offices for the church. They were members of the Central Washington Chapter of American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. Bob died August 16, 1984. Phillip died at the age of 72 (1969). Of his seven children only the daughter, Pauline is the survivor. Both Phillip and Bob are interred in the Reservation Community Memorial Park. [Information from Erna Schanzenbach Becker By Frieda Brulotte] -- BELZER Gustav, born on December 2, 1878 in Russia. His parents were Mike Belzer and Kappalina Neuman. His wife was Ottillia, born August 23, 1892. They came to the Yakima Valley in 1928. Were members of the Hope Lutheran church in Wapato. Gustav and Otillia's children were: Albert born in 1916, married Virginia Rotharmel on April 7, 1946; Virginia was born in the Yakima Valley on June 12, 1926; Olga, born September 25, 1928, married Henry T. Wiegert; Hulga born March 13, 1926; August born August 15, 1922; Elsie born January 7, 1935; Lillian born March 15, 1937. Gustav died on March 3, 1962 and Otillia died November 12, 1974. [MFH/HLC] -- BENDER Chris D. born in Walter, Russia in 1906. The family immigrated to the U.S. in 1914. Chris spent some time in California as a gold miner. They came to the Yakima Valley in 1940. He was a veteran of WWII, and was a member of the American Legion. He married Frances C. Brockway, she was born in Sunnyside in 1913, had been a resident in the Yakima Valley all her life. She died on July 31, 1974. Besides her husband, she was survived by two sons: Edgar and Robert. Six brothers and two sisters. Chris died July 7, 1976 while living in Yakima. [YHR] -- BENDER In 1937, Emma (Bender) Lapp came to the Yakima Valley with her husband, John Herman Lapp and their three children: Lorentina, Esther and Milton. They came from Eureka, South Dakota where they had farmed the land that was homesteaded by John's father, Johann Lapp, Sr. Emma was born 20 Dec., 1893 in Eureka, South Dakota. John was born 21 April, 1893 aboard ship enroute to the United States. Emma's parents were Germans from Russia, as were those of John Lapp. Emma's father was Jacob Bender, born in Essen, Germany, 13 Jan., 1859. Her mother was Christina Martel, born 12 Sept., 1861 at Kassel, South Russia. Jacob and Christina Bender lived at Kassel, South Russia until 1884 when they departed for the United States on the ship Christiana. At that time they had two children, John and Christina, who was only 3 weeks old They went directly to Monno, South Dakota, arriving 8 Oct., 1884. They arrived there 8 Oct. 1884, where they stayed for the winter. From there, they traveled by wagon to Eureka, South Dakota where they homesteaded in April, 1885. Jacob and Christina's children were: John, Christina, Pauline, Katrina, Rosina, August, Lydia, Emma, Julius, Emil #1, Magdalena, Albert, Emil #2 and Hertha. All of them were born in Eureka, SD except for the first two. Jacob Bender died in September of 1906 and Christina remained on the farm with her children for the next eight years. In 1914 she married Henry Gross. Christina Martel Bender Gross died in 1943. Emma Bender married John Herman Lapp, 26 Nov., 1914 at Eureka, SD. All three of their children were born in Eureka. John was a carpenter and farmer. During 1936, because of a drought in the midwest, they left their farm and moved west. They first settled in Wiley City and then moved to Yakima where John built and/or remodeled houses. Emma Bender Lapp's brother, Julius, and her sister, Hertha Werre, also became residents of Yakima after 1936. Emma Lapp died 6 May, 1977, and John Herman Lapp 9 Feb., 1978, and are buried in Yakima, WA. Their children are: Mrs. Gerald (Lorentina) Bogert, who lives in Seattle; Mrs. George (Esther) Kauzlarich, also Seattle; and Milton, residing in Yakima. Milton has been a self-employed home builder since 1952 and is now semi-retired. [Information from Gene (Mrs. Milton) Lapp -- By Louise Potter] -- BENDER My grandfather was George C. Bender, he was born in Kratzka, Russia in 1855. He was married to Elizabeth Mai. They came to the United States in 1907, through Galveston, Texas, and went to Kansas. They lived in Barzeru, and Garden City, Kansas, and also Colorado, following sugar beet harvests. Their children were: George C., George Henry (Henry), Pete, Eleana, Marellas, Elizabeth. My grandmother was Eva Kline. She was married to a Schreiner who died before she had my mother, Eva Schreiner, born 1890. She remarried, he also died, and the third marriage was to Henry Gieske, and moved to Merkle from Bauer. They came to the United States in 1908, through Baltimore, Maryland. They also went to Kansas and were neighbors of the Benders. Both families followed the sugar beets to Colorado. In 1910, one day, Henry Bender and Eva Schreiner took a buggy ride and were married. Henry and Eva went back to Kansas, and had the following children: Mary B., born August 1, 1911, she died at nine months of age; and Emanuel, born October 10, 1912. They then moved to Billings, Montana in 1913 where they farmed. The following children were born there: Hanna, February 25, 1914; George, September 13, 1916; Fred, August 20, 1918; Henry, March 19, 1920, and John, March 19, 1922. They moved to Wapato, Washington in 1923. The following were born there: William, March 2, 1924; and Walter, September 11, 1925. In 1927 they quit raising sugar beets, so they moved back to Billings, Montana and farmed. Children born to them there were: Ruben, August 20, 1928; George, April 9, 1930; and Lillian, December 13, 1931. In 1933 they lost everything and moved back to the Sunnyside- Mabton, Washington area. The father and two boys came alone, he worked for a fellow making chicken coops, and was a carpenter for a turkey farmer. His family followed and moved to Toppenish. Another child was born, Linda, October 26, 1934 at Wapato, Washington. In 1938 they moved back to Sunnyside, to the Wing Hill Ranch, in the Waneta area. This is where son, Henry, met Maxine Lyons, an Irish lass and married, October 20, 1940, in the Christian Church in Sunnyside. Henry says he did not like girls, but Maxine changed his mind. Maxine set her cap for Henry, which was unknown to him. There were many more Germans from Russia families in the Waneta area and many of the farmers would hire the German boys for haying, etc., because they were such good workers. Henry and Maxine have one daughter, Bonnie, two grandchildren and one greatgrandson. My parents lived in Sunnyside until 1947 when they moved to Lodi, California. My father worked for the city water works there from 1950 to 1951 and then moved to San Diego, to be closer to their youngest daughter. Father was doing carpenter work his last working years. Mother passed away in 1982.[Told to Bernice Elledge by Henry and Maxine Bender] -- BENNER Katherine born in Russia in 1888, she married Conrad Benner in Russia. They came to the U.S. in 1908 and settled in the Colfax area in Washington State. In 1919 they moved to Cowiche Washington and ranched for a living. Katherine died on Oct. 27, 1975, Conrad died in 1951. The survivors are two daughters, Katherine Darland and Pauline Frayne, both of Yakima. She was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. [YHR] -- BENNETT Frederick - the 1910 Yakima County Census lists this family: Frederick, age 49, born 1861 in Russia, both his parents born in Russia. He was naturalized in 1893. Wife, Mary age 49 born in Russia; daughter, Amanda age 16, born in North Dakota; son, Julius age 14, born in North Dakota; son, Albert 13, born in North Dakota; son, Walter age 11 born in North Dakota. [1910 Yakima County Census] -- BENZEL Henry, born in Kolb, Russia on March 18, 1879. His parents were, John Benzel and Katherine Schmidt. They came to the Yakima Valley in 1928, had previously lived at New Castle, Colorado, also for a time in Tacoma. He married Susanna she was born September 21, 1876. They were members of Hope Lutheran Church in Wapato, Wa. Susanna died on December 25, 1947 after a long illness. Their children were: Victor, born September 13, 1913 in Tacoma, Wa., he was a veteran of WWII, he died November 5, 1970; Arthur, born January 27, 1917 at New Castle, Colorado; daughters Mary Brandt, Laura Beddoe, Pauline Brown and Hilda Coburn. [HLC/YHR] --BERG Fred/Gottfried, born in Russia in 1872. His wife Susana was born in Galga (Kafka) Russia. She was the daughter of George Henry Schlick, she was born September 13, 1880. This young couple came to the U.S. in 1908, they lived in Colorado, Nebraska and Montana before moving to the Yakima Valley in 1919. They came to the valley when an influx of Germans from Russia moved into the Yakima Valley. The Berg family were early members of the Hope Lutheran Church in Wapato. The children in this family were: Alex, born October 4, 1909 at Sugar City, Colorado; Henry born July 12, 1913 at Hardin, Montana, he married Lola Wagner on October 12, 1945, she was born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1923; Amelia married Jake Hofferber on April 3, 1926 in Hope Lutheran Church; Albert Edward born September 14, 1911; Lydia married ?Whitaker of Wapato (1) second marriage Hattfried Kiel of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Fred died in 1953, he was 81 years of age, he is buried in the Reservation Community Memorial Park, located west of Wapato. Susana died November 5, 1967 at age 87. She had made her home at Wapato for 49 years. Sourwine Merritt Funeral Home in charge of burial arrangements. [YHR] -- BERG John C., born in South Russia in 1891. Came to the U.S. and settled in South Dakota. He married Lydia B. daughter of Jacob and Louisa Berg. Lydia was born Dec. 11, 1896 in South Russia, in 1900 at the age of four she came to the U.S. with her family, settling first at Haven, South Dakota where she was reared and educated. She married John Berg on Jan. 27, 1915, they farmed near McLaughlin, South Dakota until 1937 when they moved to the Yakima Valley. In 1944 they owned and operated a fruit ranch at Sunnyside, then moved to the city of Yakima. In 1946 he operated a lawn mower repair shop in his home until 1954 then retired. They were members of the Evangelical United Brethren Church. He died May 1, 1968. Lydia received her citizenship at 60 years of age, she died August 6, 1982, survived by two daughters, Erna and Elsie and a brother, William Berg of South Dakota. Interred in West Hills Memorial Park located west of Yakima. [YHR] -- BERNDT Frederich - His story as written by Alfred August Berndt. He was born in 1861 in New Danzig, Russia, died July 29, 1924 in Yakima, WA. He married Maria Herrlich January 28, 1884 in New Danzig, Russia. She was also born in New Danzig, on March 20, 1864 and died October 30, 1929 in Yakima, Washington. They immigrated to America in 1893, arriving June 1, 1893 on the S.S. Aller, with four children: August, born in 1885, died July 27, 1946; Kathryn, born 1888 died December 27, 1937; Sofia, born in 1890 died March 4, 1963; Amanda who was born aboard ship on May 22, 1893. (Two other children died in Russia.) They settled somewhere near Cathay and McCluskey, North Dakota where Julius was born in 1895, Albert in 1898 and Walter in 1900. Julius died in France October 9, 1918, Albert on April 4, 1972 and Walter on March 14, 1958. It was sometime in 1900 when they moved to Lind, WA. It was here that August worked for Meir Casper in a general mercantile establishment for about sixteen years. Sometime in 1902, Fred and Maria arrived in the Yakima Valley. They first farmed near what is now 64th and Occidental Ave. Later they moved to Union Gap in about 1904. It is not known whether Samuel was born in Lind, WA or Yakima in 1902. He died at the age of 10 in a hop kiln accident. (He was playing with two other boys and fell into the hop kiln where he was smothered. It was on the McNeff hop farm.) Their oldest son August, who had remained in Lind, married Lydia Roth April 21, 1914. It was here that their son Alfred was born on March 12, 1915. In 1917 they left Lind and went to Warden where August became a partner with his father-in-law who owned the first mercantile business there. It was here that a daughter was born and died at the age of three of diphtheria. In March of 1920 they moved to Ruff to run another store. A daughter, Lillian was born here. Alfred started school having heard and spoke only German, he was terrified of the teacher who only spoke English and as soon as he saw a way out he ran back home. His mother, insisting he get an education and learn English, marched him back to school where they locked the door to keep him in! Here he sat by the door and cried the rest of the day. As soon as the teacher unlocked the door he ran home. The next day his mother took him to school again and after a few days of this and the teacher locking the door he decided it wasn't worth all the fuss even if he was never the same again. In 1922 they arrived in Union Gap where August operated a grocery store in what at present is the Old Town Pump building. Living quarters were in the area at the back of the store. Here Alfred attended school for two years until the family moved to the reservation near Harrah on Lateral B Road in late 1924. Another daughter, Violet, was born in 1925. August farmed in this area for 18 years until they moved to an acreage on Fair Avenue in Yakima in 1942. During the war he worked as a carpenter for constructions on such major projects as Vanport in Oregon, andat the Pasco and the Moses Lake Airports. He died in 1946 in Yakima of a heart attack. Lydia, his wife, died in December of 1970. -- BERRETH Magdalena, born in Glidendorf, Russia, March 2, 1898. She was the daughter of Henry Berreth and Dorothy (Pfeifle) Bohle. Magdalena immigrated to the U.S. with her parents in 1910. She and Daniel Berreth were married and farmed in the vicinity of Artas, South Dakota. They moved to the Yakima Valley in 1937. In 1971 they moved to Richland, WA. Daniel preceded her in death, died in 1986. Also, four brothers and a sister preceded her in death. Survivors include daughters: Teckla Anderson, Hilda Dulls. Sons: Daniel of Seattle, Julius of Idaho Falls, Idaho, a sister, Alvina Morton. Magdalena is interred in West Hills Memorial Park. [YHR/LMFH] -- BERRINGER Chris born on March 25, 1884 in Russia. At the age of 20 he immigrated to the U.S. He was married in 1916. They came to the Yakima Valley in 1939, were members of Grace Lutheran Church. He died on September 30, 1949. Shaw & Sons in charge of funeral arrangement. [GLC] --BESEL John, born in Hussenbach, Russia on October 15, 1879, he was the son of Frederick Beset and Katherine Frank. He immigrated to the U.S. to Port Blakely, Washington. He married Marie Katherine Becker on March 1, 1903. Her arrival in 1903 was expected and she and John were married shortly after her arrival. She was the daughter of ? Becker and Sophie Steinard. Marie K. was born on September 7, 1884. The couple lived in Seattle for a time. Born to them at Seattle were the first four children. Fred born June 9, 1904, married Katherine Klein; Jacob (Jake) born July 7, 1905, married Mollie Foos, she died in 1973; Leo born October 15, 1908, married Elizabeth Yerger; John born April 16, 1910, married Mary Roh, lives at Hardin, Mt.; Mary born June 22, 1912 at Farmer, Wa., married Henry Steinmetz; Alex born Sept. 22, 1913 at Badger, Mt., married Emile Yerger; Mathilda (Tillie) born July 19, 1915 at Badger Mt., married Bruce Waterhouse; Sam born October 23, 1916 at Badger, Mt., married Arlene Brown; Martha born July 31, 1918 at Farmer, Wa., married ? Klein, Bob Jones; Harold born March 31, 1921 at Farmer, Wa., married Beatrice Allen; Helen born November 23, 1924 at Spokane, Wa., single; Esther born April 11, 1927 at Huntley, Mt., married Connelius Kooy, Mark Betts; Lydia born April 26, 1928 at Hardin, Mt., married David Henry; Anna born October 14, 1929 at Hardin, Mt., married Johnny Bender, Frank Potter; Henry born December 30, 1930 at Hardin, Mt., married Dorothy Lawson. The family moved to the Yakima Valley in 1935, both John and Katherine became naturalized citizens. They joined the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. John worked as a laborer and also farmed in the area of Wapato. He died June 7, 1947. He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery at Toppenish. Marie Katherine died September 11, 1956, also interred at Elmwood. [Information from Mrs. Leo Besel (Elizabeth), Jan. 1989 -- By Frieda Brulotte] -- BESEL Mary, the eldest daughter of John (Johann(es) Frederick Besel and Marie Katherine (Becker) Besel, gave an interesting account of the Besel family. Her father was born in Hussenbach, on the Wiesenseite, Kanton Krasny Kut, about 1880. Her mother was born in Erlenbach, Kanton Fjodorowka, in 1884. Land in Hussenbach had run out as the population had increased and there were those from the village that moved to Erlenbach, among them her parents, Mr. Becker and her mother, Sophie Steinard. John Besel's father was Frederick Besel and his mother was Katherine Frank, also from Hussenbach.* She stated that her dad and mother knew each other in the old country. In 1901 her dad came with his parents, three brothers and two sisters. He and his family landed in New York and came to Seattle and her mother, who came in 1903, landed in Manitoba, Canada, crossed Canada and took the ferry to Port Blakely and that is where they were married. They must have been sweethearts in the old country, Mary said, as her dad had her come out here to marry him. The brothers that immigrated were Jacob, Fred and Conrad, his sisters were Katherine, married Schillereff, and Anna, who married Lenhardt. They all settled in the Big Bend country, Portland and Dryden. Her mother said the trip took 14 days on the ocean and she was sick the entire time. She came with two brothers, Henry and Conrad (Becker). Henry settled in Saginaw, Michigan and Conrad in Seattle; Conrad died on a construction job in Seattle. "There were three sisters in my mother's family, two of them died in the Revolution, the oldest one disappeared completely, they never heard from her. The youngest had three children and a husband and in the fall they took everything away from them and they were left to starve. She said her mother received a letter telling about it. That was in Hussenbach." Her parents came to the Yakima Valley in 1935. They were hard- working people, her father was the farmer for Cort Meyer, on Meyer's Road south of Toppenish, for many years. Her father died June 7, 1947 and her mother September 11, 1956. They had 17 children; Fred, John, Alex, Ed, Harold, Jake, Leo, Sam, Henry, a son Samuel, who died in 1912, Mary, Tillie, Martha, Esther, Helen, Lydia and Anna. Her mother was a charter member of the Evangelical and Reformed Church. This church was located on Washington Avenue and is now incorporated with the Evangelical Church located at 4th and South Elm in Toppenish. *Editor's note: It is interesting to note that on the AHSGR Kanton map it shows Erlenbach (Baseler) and on a map of Hussenbach, Kanton Krasny Kut, we find the family residences of Basel, Frank and Becker and at Erlenbach, the family name Backer. [Information from Mary (Beset) Steinmetz - By Louise Potter CFH] -- BETSCH Benedict and Juliana, (their story). Benedict was born in the Odessa region of Russia to Mathias and his wife on March 30, 1880. The Mathias Betsch family came to the U.S. arriving in New York; their final destination would be North Dakota. Juliana was born in the Crimea region of Russia on Feb. 17, 1881. The details of Juliana's emigration are vaguely known, but it is thought she arrived in the U.S. with an uncle in the mid 1880s. Benedict Betsch and Juliana Antoni were married in Hauge, North Dakota on November 5, 1902. Benedict had several occupations among them meat cutter, homesteader and preacher, and his job until retirement at the Granger brick yard in Granger, Wa. Benedict moved his family to Krupp, Wa., where he homesteaded a section of land. He raised wheat, the harvesting done with horse-drawn combines. Krupp, Wa., is no longer on the maps, but it was situated near where Moses Lake, Wa. now is. Benedict and Juliana had a large family of eight boys and four girls. Times were difficult, and in the early 1900s they moved to Granger. Eventually most of the sons of Benedict worked at Granger Clay with their father. Benedict and Juliana went back to North Dakota, and for two years he studied for the ministry. They returned to Granger, and Benedict returned to work at the brickyard. He retired from Granger Clay in 1942. Mr. & Mrs. Betsch moved to Yakima after his retirement where he took a job as janitor for Miller Department Store. He went on to become an elevator operator at the Donnelly Hotel until his health forced him into complete retirement. He spent his days fishing with his neighbor, and one evening before a planned fishing trip, Benedict died. It was July 30, 1955, he was 75 years old. Juliana was without her partner of 53 years. She moved to Toppenish, Wa. to live with her son, Julius and his wife. She stayed with them for several years; failing health required that she be placed in a nursing home where she stayed for four years. Juliana died on November 2, 1966. It was just two days before her 64th wedding anniversary, she was 85 years of age. Of the twelve Betsch children, eight are still living. Two daughters; Elizabeth Hans of Tacoma, and Agnes McKern of Grand Rhonde, Ore., six sons; Edward of Klamath Falls, Oregon, John Julius, Paul, William and Antone (Tony) all of Yakima, Wa. Article number two on Benedict and Juliana Betsch. Benedict was the son of Mathias Betsch and Elizabeth Richter. Mathias was the son of Lawrence Betsch and Fransica Keller. Elizabeth Richter was the daughter of John Richter and Mariana Maset. Their children were, Benedict, John, Antone, Mariana, Helen, Katherine and Frances. Juliana was the daughter of Melchior Antoni and Rosian Hauck/Houck. She came to the U.S. with her brothers and sister, rather than with an uncle as has previously been stated. Benedict and Juliana's marriage took place November 5, 1902 in St. Johns Church, McIntosh County, Hauge, North Dakota. When Benedict's father received his naturalization in June, 1900, this included the whole family at that time. It was in the District Court at Lenton, Emmons County, State of North Dakota. Benedict moved his family to Krupp, Washington, Grant County and on March 7, 1906 filed for a homestead at Waterville, land office. Received his final papers November 1, 1910 at Wilson Creek, Wa. He moved them from there in 1918 to Liberty, Wa., and then to Granger in 1919. Their children were: Elizabeth born October 10, 1904 at Krupp, married, Lewis Hans; Edward born November 18, 1905 at Krupp, married Eva Smith; John born March 13, 1907, married Clara Thomas; Joseph born Sept. 26, 1908 at Krupp, married Margaret Thomas; Mathias B. born April 23, 1910, married Cordelia Holmes, he died January 18, 1980; Amelia born November 15, 1911 at Krupp, married Bill Christensen, he died October 27, 1949, 2nd marriage to Walter Yohane, she died April 14, 1983; Helen born June 10, 1913 at Krupp, married Virgil Stephens, she died September 19, 1973; Julius born June 2, 1915 at Krupp, married Elizabeth Adolph; Antone born May 10, 1917, married Alma Pister; Paul born January 30, 1919 at Granger, married Louise Thacker; Peter born June 9, 1921 died the same day; William born July 9, 1922 at Granger, married Faye Thomson; Agnes born February 14, 1924 at Granger, married Almo Rice, second marriage to Robert McKern. [Information submitted by Antone Betsch, Yakima Wa. 1988] --BLANDE John, this name is listed in the 1910 Yakima County census. He was born in Russia in March 1855. His profession was a baker, and he had received his naturalization in 1880. This places him as an early settler in the Yakima Valley. [1910 Yakima County Census] -- BLUM Henry, born in 1882 in Bessarabia, Romania (Russia). He married Anna Marie Ulrich, she was also born in Bessarabia in the year 1880. They immigrated to America in 1910 to the state of North Dakota. Before moving to the Yakima Valley they lived in Montana. They lived in the Wapato area and farmed for their living, since 1923. They left the farm for retirement and moved to the city of Yakima. During the years at Wapato they were both active members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church. Mrs. Blum (Anna) was active in the Ladies Aid Society, she held the office of secretary for a long time. The German language was still used in the church. Henry and Anna raised a family of four sons and three daughters. Sons: Otto, Paul, Emil and William. Daughters: Elsie Arndt, Mrs. David Zier, Mrs. Don Slack. Anna had four of her brothers living in this country - they were Martin, Fred, Reinhold and Gottfried Ulrich. The Blums continued living in Yakima until 1960, when they moved to Sunnyside, Wa. and made their home with son William. Anna preceded Henry in death, she died on May 11, 1963 at age 82, she was recognized by the community as a pioneer. The Blums celebrated 60 years of marriage. Henry died March 9, 1965. He was the son of Carl Blum and Rosina Hoan. [YHR] --BOEHLER Mathilda, born in South Russia, July 4, 1880. The Grace Lutheran Church has record of her and not of her husband, Henry, who was also born in Russia. Her family immigrated to the U.S. in 1901, she married Henry on May 18, 1899. She moved to Wiley City, Yakima County (date unknown). Mathilda died in 1949, her survivors were her husband, six daughters and two sons. The daughters were: Hilda, Olga, Lydia, Frieda, Alice and Edna; the sons names were not listed. Henry died of a heart attack on April 15, 1952. Keith & Keith Funeral Home in charge of burial arrangements. [GLC] -- BOETCHER Edward, born in Russia in 1893. He came to the U.S. with his parents at age 3, they settled first in North Dakota. He was raised and educated near Hazen, North Dakota. For 27 years he worked as a coal miner in North Dakota. He was married before he moved to the Yakima Valley in 1947. He served in the U.S. Army in WWI. They were members of Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. A son, James Edward preceded him in death, he died May 5, 1979 from injuries caused by an industrial accident. Edward died May 30, 1979; his survivors are his wife Mary, a son Kenneth and five daughters: Norma Reichenberg, Eleanore Miller, Tracey Fluegge, Luella Wilson and Shirley Davis. Keith & Keith Funeral Home in charge of burial arrangements. [YHR] -- BOGNER In about 1900, my grandparents, Ferdinand and Katharina (Renford) Bogner immigrated to the United States. They came to the valley around 1923 from North Dakota. They lived there when they first came as there was a sister living there. Grandfather was born in Russia in 1859 and my grandmother in 1856; he died in 1935 and grandmother in 1941. Their children were Emanuel, David and Mary (Helm). My father was Emanuel and my mother was Rosina (Delzer) Bogner. Dad was born in Tarutino, Bessarabia in 1887. When we came to Toppenish in 1925, my grandparents were living on Washington Avenue, as were my aunt and uncle, Gottlieb and Mary Heim. We lived on Washington Avenue also. My folks had my brother, Milden, and myself and when my mother died he married Eva Mitzle and had four other children, Walter, Leonard, Lydia (Oswalt) and Clara (Kirk). Dad died in 1956. When my grandfather came to the valley, he was retired, living on a pension. Dad did agricultural work, first he worked for Washington Nursery and then he worked for Benz until he retired. [Information from Reinhold Bogner By Louise Potter/CFH ] --BOGNER Ferdinand, born in Bessarabia, he was the son of E. Bogner. He was born October 22, 1859. He married Katherine Renford in Bessarabia, she was born in 1856. Their son, Emanuel was born to them in Tarutina, on August 20, 1887. They immigrated to the U.S., first place of residency is not known. They came to the Yakima Valley in 1923, and lived in the Toppenish area. Other children were, Marie, David and Justine. Ferdinand died February 16, 1935, Katherine died December 10, 1941, their son, Emanuel died May 22, 1956. All three are buried in the Elmwood Cemetery at Toppenish. [YHR] --BOHM Frank, born in Russia on May 11, 1878. He was the son of Frank Bohm and Katie Hamel. The information about Mr. Bohm is very limited without detailed research. He was an early resident of the Yakima area. He died at age 37, on September 2O, 1915. His survivors were wife and six children. They were members of the Catholic Church. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery. [YHR] --BOHNEN Gerhard, born at Odessa, Russia in 1913. His wife, Mary was also born in Russia. She immigrated to the U.S. to North Dakota with her parents when she was but three months of age. Her family homesteaded in North Dakota for five years, then moved to Odessa, Wa. where they bought wheat land near Odessa. She and Gerhard were married and moved to Spirit Lake, Idaho. They lived at Spirit Lake until 1924 when they moved to Kittitas, Wa. Gerhard worked for the Milwaukee Railroad. He preceded her in death, died March 11, 1972. Mary was a member of Kittitas Community Church. She died Feb. 10, 1982. She was survived by two sons, Melvin and Gerald and two daughters, Marlene and Luverne, both of Seattle. [YHR] -- BORGENS George, born in Frank, Russia on November 4, 1876, son of Andreas Borgens and Anna Marie Uhrich, both from Frank. On January 17, 1900 he and Katherine Margaret Gettman were married. She was the daughter of John George Gettman and Margaret Frank, also from the village of Frank. Katherine was born May 7, 1878 in Frank. In September 1907 they immigrated to the U.S. with son Adolph, who was born in 1904. They first settled at Hastings, Nebraska, where George worked for the railroad. A daughter, Esther was born on November 11, 1907. The family moved to Loveland, Colorado, lived there for a time, a son, Rueben was born there on December 28, 1908. Back again to Nebraska, this time to Grand Island, Ne. During their stay there a daughter, Helen was born September 22, 1914. The family moved back and forth from Nebraska and Colorado until 1924 they changed their direction and moved to Portland, Oregon and from there to the Yakima Valley. In 1924 they started farming in the Yakima Valley, first renting land which was open farming. They bought a prune orchard on Campbell Road, which is near Wapato, Wa. On this piece of property they had a house built by another German acquaintance, Mr. Henry Stroh, the Stroh's had moved from Odessa, Washington to the Yakima Valley in 1917. In 1944 George and Katherine retired and sold the orchard and bought a house in Wapato. Both were naturalized in the 1930s. They were members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. Katherine died on June 22, 1952, George died August 6, 1957. Both are buried in the Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima, Wash. [Information from Esther Borgens and Helen (Borgens) Welch. By Frieda Brulotte] --BORGENS John, was the son of Jacob Borgens and Maria Katharina Walters, he John was born on June 13, 1892 in Frank Russia. He was the brother of Mary K. (Borgens) Eichler. He married Anna Schaub on February 7, 1912. Anna was born in Saratov, Russia on October 3, 1892. She was the daughter of Johannas Schaub and Anna Margaret Schmidt. The Schaub family worked on the railroads in the Saratov area. John met Anna when her family moved to Frank, Russia. The first few months of their marriage they lived in the Borgens household. March 16, 1913 the immigrated to the U.S. Their sponsors for their coming was John's uncle, Henry Borgens of Ritzville, Washington. They lived with the Henry Borgens for awhile before getting a home for themselves. John and Anna's first child, George, was born enroute to America. They arrived at New York aboard the Kaiser Augusta Victoria. They lived at Ritzville and for a time at Odessa, the first six years, then moved to the Yakima Valley. They bought a small orchard at Wapato, John acquired his naturalization November 8, 1922. In 1920, John was a primary worker in establishing the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. Some of the first meetings were held in the Borgen's home. He held the office of Sunday School Superintendent for several years. In the spring of 1929, while doing the spring work in the orchard he contracted pneumonia. He died on a Sunday morning, April 7, 1929. He left six sons and wife Anna. His sons were: George, born February 17, 1913; Arthur, born July 2, 1915; Orville, born July 31, 1916, he died October 21, 1963; John born October 16, 1917; Clarence, born November 18, 1921; Delmar, born October 19, 1926. The pastor of the Pilgrim Congregational Church at the time of John's death was Rev. J. Hochstater, the visiting pastor was Rev. J.B. Schmidt from Yakima. Sourwine Undertaker was in charge of the interment of John. Anna's second marriage was to Mr. Taut from Ritzville, Washington. He preceded her in death, she died on February 1, 1976. Both are buried in the Ritzville cemetery. [By Frieda Brulotte 1987] -- BOWER David Bower was born February 8, 1870 in Russia, the son of Jacob Bower. He died November 26, 1939 at Toppenish, having lived in the state 23 years. He was survived by his wife, Mary. He was a member of the German Lutheran Church and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery. [CFH ] -- BREIGHTHAM Alexander, born April 29, 1897 in Kolb, Russia. He was the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Fox) Breightham. His arrival in the state of Washington was to Walla, Wa., where he was raised and educated. He married Henrietta Rehn on April 23, 1921 in Ritzville Washington (they celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in 1983). They moved to the Yakima Valley in 1925. He was employed by John Deere Implement Co., after the firm closed he worked for Edwards Equipment Co. until his retirement in 1969. Alex served in the U.S. Army during WWI, and was a member of the Disabled American Veterans. He died December 31, 1983 and was survived by his wife Henrietta; sons; Harold of Everett, Washington, Virgil of Yakima; daughters; Mrs. Robert (Sharon) Schonewill, Mrs. Leroy (Lois) Bloom, Mrs. Armand (Carolyn) Doucette all of Yakima, Mrs. John (Dorothy) Connell of Portland, Oregon. He also left a brother, Carl Breightham of Seattle, and sisters, Mrs. Ray (Betty) Perry, and Mrs. Lydia Litscher both of Walla Walla, Wa. His burial was in West Hills Memorial Park. [YHR] -- BRETTHAUSER Jacob, born July 2, 1872 in Russia. He was the son of John Bretthauser and Lizzie Schwar. They were early settlers in the Yakima Valley. They lived in the area of Sunnyside. Jacob died February 21, 1923. Burial was in the Sunnyside Cemetery. [YVGS] -- BRIELTZ Andrew, born in Russia October 1, 1866, he was the son of George Brieltz and Ethel Schafer. His wife, Matilda, was born in Russia, July 15, 1870, the daughter of Catherine and Adam Schafer. They were members of St. Paul's Catholic Church, he was a member of the Yeoman Lodge. He died at age 60 on March 27, 1918. He left wife Matilda, son Christofer and daughters, Mrs. Rufus Mossburger from North Dakota, and Mrs. Joseph Haitz. Burial in Calvary Cemetery and arrangements by Shaw & Sons. [S&S] -- BROCHEL John Nicolas, born in Russia in 1868. He came to the U.S. in 1900 and settled first in South Dakota. He came to the Yakima Valley in 1920. Not much is known of his wife Theresa. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. He died on January 10, 1948 at age 78. His survivors are his wife, a son, John, and daughters; Evelyn Hemrich of Cloverdale, British Columbia Canada and Katie Schmidt of Portland, Oregon. Shaw & Sons in charge of burial arrangement.[YVGS] -- BROECKEL Emilie, born August 23, 1894 in Russia - daughter of Henry Broeckel and Elizabeth Nathan. They immigrated to the U.S. when Emilie was a young girl. The family settled at Linton, North Dakota, where she was raised and received her education. She married *Christian Weber in Linton on June 15, 1912. They moved to the Yakima Valley in 1921. Christian died in 1931 and Emilie remarried, her second husband was William Broeckel, they were married on October 27, 1937. Her church affiliation was with the Jehovah's Witnesses. She died July 7, 1980, her survivors are three daughters and seven sons. Daughters: Anita Costin, Tilly Williams, Betty Laidler. Sons: Milton, John, Walter, Alvin (he died Nov. 28, 1987), Eugene, Edwin and Randal Broeckel. Also leaves a sister, Rosalie Schnafat of North Dakota, and a brother, Henry Nathan. She is interred in Tahoma Cemetery. *Christian Weber was born in Russia to John Weber and Katherine Troutman on October 3, 1883. [YHR] -- BROST Selma (Babitzke) Brost, was born in Katzbalk, Bessarabia, in southern Russia, June 26, 1897. She was the daughter of Chrisnam and Louise (Kalmaback) Babitzke. Selma and her parents came to the United States the year she was born, the family settling in Ashley, N.D. She worked with her parents on the family farm until 1914 when she married William Brost of Ashley. The couple farmed there until they moved to South Dakota in 1930, moving to the Yakima Valley in 1939 where they farmed on the Fort Road. Mrs. Brost was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church of Toppenish. She enjoyed cooking, especially German foods. She had five sons and four daughters: Walter, Earl, Ray, Ben and Rubin, Leona (Bouchey), Laura (Pilloud), Esther (Moser) and Emma (George). She was preceded in death by her husband who died in 1982 and a son, William Brost, Jr., who died in 1972. Mrs. Brost died January 31, 1988 at Toppenish. Services were held in the Faith Lutheran Church in Toppenish, she is buried in the Zillah Cemetery. [CFH/TR] --BROST William F. born October 22, 1891 in Mobridge, S.D. to Jacob and Margaret Brost. He married Selma Babitzke on March 24, 1914 in Ashley No. Dakota. She was born on June 26,1897 in Bessarabia, her parents were Chrisnon Babitzke and Louise Kalamback. They came to the U.S. in 1897, she was but a few months old. The family settled at Ashley, N.D. She grew up on the family farm, worked there until she married William Brost. They farmed at Ashley until 1930, then moved to South Dakota, moving to the Yakima Valley in 1939. William was an avid gardener, they were members of Faith Lutheran Church in Toppenish. He died June 23, 1982, his survivors were his wife, five sons and four daughters. Sons; Walter, Earl, Roy, Ben and Rubin; daughters, Laura (Pilloud), Esther (Moser), Emma (George), Leona (Bouchey) a son, William died in 1972. Selma died at age 90, Feb. 2, 1988. Burial in Zillah Cemetery. [HLC] -- BUCKMAN Ludwig, born in Russia, June 20, 1886. He died January 25, 1943. He married Magdalina Folk, daughter of John Folk and Catherine Filkin. Magdalina was born in Russia on December 24, 1869. She died April 17, 1939. Langevin Mussetter Funeral Home in charge of burial in Calvary Cemetery. [YVGS] -- BUSCH John Busch and Katherine (Zier) Busch; by George Busch, son. "We Also Came" After receiving the many letters urging us to come to America from our relatives, we finally decided to leave Diedl, Russia, which was our home, in the summer of 1911. When it came time to leave, my Mother, who was pregnant, was not allowed to go, so my Aunt took her place. After I was born in September, my Mother, my two year-old sister and I left for America. My Mother was terribly sick all during the crossing, so my sister had to take care of me. I marvel at the courage of these wives, leaving their parents, brothers and sisters, not knowing if they'd ever see them again, to travel to a foreign land with foreign customs. The Lord surely protected these Christian people! Needless to say, we never got my Mother on a boat again! For many years my parents kept in touch with their relatives in Russia, sending them money and news, but it became increasingly dangerous for them, so they were asked to stop writing. This was very heartbreaking for my parents. After landing at Ellis Island, we traveled to Montana, where my Dad had settled. My Uncle had sent passage money and had a job waiting, so my Dad's first responsibility was to repay that debt. We spent many years traveling around Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, working in farm labor. Thinning beets mostly. There were eight more children born in America, two of them after we moved to Washington, which was in 1922. We first lived in Toppenish and worked in the beets. In the fall we moved to Yakima on Mead Avenue, where my Dad worked for a company that dug trenches for sewers and water pipes. The next spring we moved to Cowiche and worked around that area in the beets and the orchards. I attended school wherever we lived, not knowing any English when I first started, but learning it quickly. In a big family there was always plenty to do. We usually had cousins living near by to spend our spare time with. In the fall of 1935, my brother and I moved to Ellensburg where we rented land and started farming. We raised potatoes, hay and grain. We later quit growing potatoes and went to sweet corn. The rest of our family moved to Kittitas County the next spring and farmed until my Dad retired. My folks both passed away in 1960. My dad had become a citizen of the U.S. in the 40s. In 1942 I was drafted into the army, so had to put my life on hold for awhile. I took my basic training at Little Rock, Arkansas, then was stationed at Camp Beale, California until I received my discharge in 1943. While I was home on furlough in May, my fiancee, Geneva Kleweno and I decided to get married in Yakima so all the members of our families could be there. Then back to Cal., for a long honeymoon. We enjoyed traveling around California, but were very glad to get home and back to farming. We lived on the farm until we retired. We are blessed with four children, a son and three daughters. Our son and family now farm the land that his father and grandfather farmed. Our daughters live close enough for us to enjoy our seven grandchildren. Geneva Kleweno Busch Story, by Geneva "I was the daughter of Julia (Schierman) Kleweno who emigrated from Jagodnaja Poljana to America when she was sixteen years old. She had five sisters and only one brother, so it was hard to make a living. She and her sisters had to work in the fields. They took turns taking care of the younger ones. My mother never had a chance to attend school, so she could neither read or write when she came to America. She arrived by way of Ellis Island. She traveled to Endicott, Wa. to meet her brother and a sister who had settled there. Her brother was a carpenter, so it was easy for him to find work. Would you believe my mother's first job was doing housework and cooking for an English Lady. She was very good to work for and taught her English and the American way. She met my father, who was farming with his dad and brothers on a wheat ranch near Endicott. My dad, John Kleweno, had moved from Kansas with his family. His mother died soon after they arrived, so they were four brothers and their dad batching. It didn't take long to convince my mother he needed her. She had quite a job until the rest of the boys got married. My dad's family had immigrated from Russia in the late 1840's from Saratov, landing in New York. His grandmother died enroute aboard ship. My folks made their home on a wheat ranch at Endicott and raised 13 children. In 1939 they moved to Yakima with their youngest son and two daughters, one of them was me. There was work for all of us in the apple orchards and warehouses. The German people were all hard workers, so had no trouble finding jobs. Some of my memories of my mother was her delicious noodles, rye bread, Krummel Kuchen, Schnitzel soup, Glaesce, Grepple, pickled pigs feet, pickled watermelon, German worst, leber wurst, rivvel suppe (I got to cut the rivvel into the boiling broth, with a scissors). Schnitte Suppe with dried fruit and a nice big slab or warm rye bread! The seesa blinna were so thin and delicious. When I was a girl I'd hear about the German ladies getting up at the crack of dawn to get their washing on the line. There was always a contest to see who was first. One man commented, "You can always tell the German's house, because the wash was always out early." There was always an unspoken contest to see who could cut their noodles the finest and the fastest! My mother's hands flew! My heart was always in my mouth, I just know she'd cut her fingers some day, but she never did. What wonderful memories to be handed down to our children. We are truly grateful for all those that put so much time and effort into preserving our heritage." -- CHRISTMAN Phillip, born at Odessa, Russia on August 15, 1891. He came to the United States in 1909 (at age 18). He settled in South Dakota, where he married Pauline Reister in 1916. They moved to the Yakima Valley in 1936. They were members of Grace Lutheran Church. Phillip died June 14, 1959. The information on this family was in the church records. No further information is available without further research. [GLC] -- CLAUSEN Detrick, born in Russia in 1861. His father was born in Germany. His wife was born in Russia in 1875. They were naturalized citizens in 1886. The Yakima County 1910 census list them as wife Elizabeth age 35, Detrick age 21, born in Nebraska, and laborer, Henry age 20, born in Oregon, John age 17, Dave age 15. Lena age 13, Peter age 12, all born in Oregon. [Yakima County 1910 Census] -- DAMM Peter Damm was born in Russia November 30, 1882. He was the son of Jakob and Mary (Brese) Damm. He married Katie Burback, the daughter of Melvin Melger Burback and was also born in Russia. Katie and her family immigrated to the United States in 1899. A number of children were born to this marriage; William, who lived at Fairview, Mt. at the time of his father's death; John, Royal City; David, Richland; Millie Green, Toppenish; Mary Damm, Fairview, Mt.; Lilly Servo, Richland; Molly Rasmussan, Quincy; Dolly Leibelt, Quincy; Anna Buchholtz, Havre, Mt. and Bertha Kaufman, Quincy. He was also survived by a brother, Alexander of Culbertson, Mt. and four sisters, Mary Breze, Fairview, Mt.; Molly Bodt, Sidney, Mt.; Katie Miller, Fairview, Mt. and Millie Liebrecht, Wapato. His wife died March 28, 1945 at Toppenish. Mr. Damm later married a widow, Elizabeth (Sterling) Ritter in 1945. At the time of her death in 1958 she was survived by 10 children from her marriage to Mr. Ritter. She and Mr. Damm had no children. Mr. Damm was a farmer and lived at 714 Washington Avenue. They were members of the Toppenish Assembly of God Church and are buried at Elmwood Cemetery. Mr. Damm died in 1972. [CFH Information from Clara Hill] -- DANKERS John, born in Russia in 1858, he came to the U.S. in 1875. The first place they lived is not known. They came to Prosser in 1884. He married Anna Tamke in 1880. The Dankers moved to Yakima, they became members of the Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. Anna died in 1934. They had made their home in the Cowiche area for 40 years. John died on July 26, 1935 of a kidney ailment. He left two sons, two daughters, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. [GLC] -- DEINES Phillip, born in Russia, his wife Mollie Kaiser was also born in Russia. They were early settlers in the Yakima Valley. The Hope Lutheran Church in Wapato listed them as members. They lived and farmed in the Harrah area and had a number of children. A young son, Rueben, died at the age of 10, June 17, 1929. He was born in the state of Washington, in the community of Donald, Wa. Other boys in the family were, Phillip, born December 3, 1925 and Edward William, born November 12, 1927. The Deines family left the valley and moved to Montana. [HLC] --DIETZ John M. came from Russia to the U.S. at the age of two, he was born at Odessa, Russia in 1901. They first settled near Mott, North Dakota where John was reared. He married Regarda Haberlack. She was born in Karlsruhe, North Dakota in 1902. They moved to the Yakima Valley in the early 1940s. They were members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He worked in the fruit industry. He died February 21, 1974. His survivors were: four sons, John of Freemont, California, Wendelin of Dallas, Oregon, Victor of Spokane and Sebastian of Buena. Two daughters, Mrs. Orrin (Delves) Berg of Selah, and Mrs. Leona Traub of Missoula, Montana. [YHR] --DIETS Mary Anna born in September 1877 in Romania. She was the daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Schmidt. From cemetery records at Shaw and Sons her death is shown as November 13, 1932. [S&S/YVGS] -- DILLMAN Peter (Pete), was born in Norka, Russia on July 31, 1892, the son of John Dillman. His wife, Alice was also born in Norka, Russia, on April 24, 1890 the daughter of George and Margia Blum. They moved to the Yakima Valley in 1940, early information is not available on this family. They lived in the city of Wapato. They became members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. Alice joined the Ladies Aid Society of the church. Pete worked as a laborer. The children of this couple were; five sons, Pete Jr., Harry, George, Albert and Walter. Their three daughters were; Millie, Elsie and Betty. Alice preceded her husband in death on June 4, 1967, she died in their home. Peter died July 31, 1969. Both are buried in the Reservation Community Memorial Park, west of Wapato. [MFH/YHR] -- DIRK Peter, born in Russia in 1870. Both his parents were born in Russia. Peter's wife, Lida was born in 1872 in Nebraska. Her father was born in Wisconsin and her mother in Iowa. Peter and Lida's children listed in the 1910 census were: Charles age 15 (1895), Katie age 13 (1897), Emma age 10 (1900), Lulu age 8 (1902), these four were born in Kansas. Son John age 6 (1904) was born in Missouri, Myrtle age 4 (1906) in Kansas, the youngest, Dorothy age 1 1/2 was born in Yakima, Wa. (1907 - 1908). Peter was a farmer. [Yakima County 1910 Census] -- DITTER Conrad, born in Russia, January 20, 1887 in Frank, Russia. He was the son of Milolo Ditter and Katherine Bart. His wife, Katherine (Katie) Gettman was the daughter of George Gettman and Marie Frank. Conrad and Katie were married in Russia on September 10, 1904. Katie was born in Frank, Russia on June 30, 1884. They immigrated to the U.S. in 1907, arriving on May 10. The port of entry was Ellis Island, New York. They settled first at Grand Island, Ne. and made their living by farming. In June of 1930 they moved to the Yakima Valley. Besides farming they worked in the fruit warehouses. Katherine was a homemaker, she was kept busy raising the children. The family were members of Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. The Ditters had obtained their citizenship. They were parents of; Conrad, John, Pauline, Elsie Rose and Caroline. Conrad, Sr. died January 11, 1941 and Katherine on April 5, 1953. Both are interred in the Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima. [Information from Rosie Ditter By Frieda Brulotte - 1989] -- DOERING Adolph, born on February 1, 1888 at Gnadenfeld, Russia a son of Samuel Doering and Christine Bergholser. Adolph married Emily on February 18, 1909 in Russia. They immigrated to Canada in 1910. They left Canada in 1917 and settled in North Dakota. They did not stay there very long, and came to Washington state in October of 1919, living in Yakima. There they became members of Grace Lutheran Church. Adolph died on March 12, 1923 at the age of 35. He left his wife, Emily, daughter, Melita and six brothers (one lived at Lind, Washington) and a sister. Shaw and Sons were in charge of funeral arrangements and burial in Tahoma Cemetery. [YHR] -- DUMLER Conrad, born in Grimm, Russia on June 17, 1905. He came to the U.S. with his parents when a child and they settled in Iowa, they also lived in Minnesota for many years. In 1927 he married Edith Quigley. In 1941 they moved to the Yakima Valley. For the past few years, owned and operated C&C Auto Sales in Yakima. They were members of Grace Lutheran Church. Conrad died November 27, 1965. Keith & Keith Funeral Home in charge of burial at Tahoma Cemetery. [YHR/GLC] -- EBERTS My father was Peter Eberts. We came to the Valley in 1916 from Qu'Appelle, Sask., Canada and dad worked for the railroad until the time of his death in 1940. My mother, Mary Catherine Eberts, was married first to Joseph Kirkoffner in Russia and they and four children; Andrew, Frank, August and Martha. When mother and Mr. Kirkoffner came to the United States from Odessa, R., they were detained in Germany when the children came down with smallpox. Mr. Kirkoffner passed away and after about 2 1/2 years mother married my father by whom she had five more children; Magdeline, Katherine (my twin), myself, Leona, Joe and John. Magdeline, Katherine and I were born at Qu'Appelle. My father's father was Tony Eberts and his mother was Magdaline Miller. My mother's father was John Eberts and her mother was Katherine Keller. Dad and mother were both born in Odessa, Russia. Dad in 1880 and mother in 1874, mother lived many years after the death of my father and died in 1956 at 81 years of age. Our home was at Germantown. My folks are buried at Elmwood Cemetery, they were members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Toppenish. Leona (Bangs), who gave the above story died July 4, 1989 at Toppenish. She was 74 years old. She had been born in Canada in 1914 and came with her parents to the Valley in 1916. She married Glen R. Bangs September 9, 1936 at Toppenish. She was survived by a daughter, Pauline Schaefer and two sons, Raymond and John and her husband. Her twin sister died in 1977. We were saddened to learn of her death. [CFH] [Information from Leona (Eberts) Bangs --By Louise Potter] -- ECKHARDT Conrad, born in Frank, Russia. He and his wife, Anna Getz, came to America in March, 1888, entering through the port city, Baltimore, Maryland. They settled first at Hastings, Nebraska for a few years. They then moved to Kansas where they had three daughters. The first was Annia born in 1889, then Katie born at Alma, Nebraska on November 1, 1891 and Emma born in Chester, Nebraska on September 1, 1893. Conrad moved his family west to Bickleton in Klickitat County in April 1894. His first employer was also a German from Russia immigrant, Conrad Schaefer*. Before long he bought land on which he raised crops and also livestock. At Bickleton, Clara was born on March 27, 1895. After Clara, two boys; one in 1896 and one 1897, both died in infancy. Then three more daughters were born to them; Esther on May 28, 1899, Lydia on May 15, 1901 and Julia on July 3, 1903. The Eckhardt's left the Bickleton area and moved to Odessa, Washington where he retired. Conrad died May 2, 1943 and Anna on August 12, 1936. Both are buried in the Odessa Cemetery. Clara's story is written in the Rev. George Kissler story. Information from Roy and Miriam Knopp - 1987 By Frieda Brulotte (Edit. Note: Conrad Schaefer was minister of the German Methodist Church at Bickleton.) -- EHERT David, born February 17, 1853 in Russia. His wife, Lucy, was born December 11, 1852. The information on this early family in the valley is limited. He died March 3, 1935 at Grandview, Washington, Lucy on December 5, 1932. Both are buried in the Old Sunnyside Cemetery. [NFN] -- EHRMAN Jacob and wife, Frieda, moved to the Yakima Valley in 1959. She was born in Odessa, Russia on June 18, 1890. She came to the U.S. in 1911 at age 21. She was married shortly after her arrival in Eureka, South Dakota. The family were members of Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima, Wa. Frieda died January 22, 1969, they had been married 58 years. She was survived by her husband, Jacob, and a son Edwin; a brother, William L. Lachemeier of Medicine Hat Alberta, Canada and two daughters, Leondina Haupt and Alvina Allmendinger. Her burial was in Tahoma Cemetery. [GLC/YHR] -- EICHLER Mr. William H. Eichler, who was born in Russia in 1888, died at Wapato in 1936. He and his wife, Emelia, lived in the valley a short time prior to his death. His employment was given as farmer and as self-employed. Rev. E. Hergert from Portland had his service. He is buried at Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima. [CFH] -- EICHLER William/Wilhelm, born in Neu Donnhof, Russia on October 18, 1884. He was the son of Ludwig Eichler and Anna Margaret Wolf/Wolfe. Ludwig died a few months before William was born. His mother was living with her brother Jacob Wolfe after she was widowed, and in whose home William was born. When he was about two years of age his mother remarried, to Alexander Dinkelacher from the village Messer. The family soon moved to the city, Saratov. Anna Margaret worked in the knitting and weaving mills, the step-father worked as a coachman for wealthy Russians. As a young boy William received his education in a Russian school, other times both boys, (Henry the oldest of the two boys) learned to weave as they spent much time with their mother at the mill. Henry was soon working regularly also. Later on in their own homes both wove on their looms set up in the house. The fabric that was woven was serpinka. When William was about twelve years old the family moved back to the village, Messer. As Neu Donnhof was not too far from there, he spent much time at the Uncle's where he enjoyed the company of his cousins, and worked. His brother married and moved to the village Frank, the neighbors next door was the "Borgens Family". Before the age of 21, William and other young men from the villages went south to the Crimea, where they worked for other German families and where the seasons were warmer and crops grown there were more varied. William's parents both died in the early spring of 1902 when he was 18 years old. When the young men reached the age of 21, they were subject to the draft into the Russian army. He and a cousin were both drafted and sent to a base located at the border of Afghanistan. The extreme heat and then cold was very hard on those men who were not used to those conditions. Yellow fever was rampant among them, both William and a cousin contracted the fever. They had served about a year and a half and they were able to get sick leave to come home. Uncle Jacob used his influence and a bribe and got them out of the army. Back home in Frank, William came to stay for a time at his brother Henry's home. Next door lived Maria Katharina Borgens daughter of Jacob and Maria Katharine Walters. She was born in Frank on April 4, 1890. They were married on December 30, 1907. They lived a short distance down the street from her parents. Their first child, William was born April 15, 1909. With two older sisters already in the U.S. a chance to also emigrate to the U.S. came up, they were able to take the place of a couple who had intended to leave and had a sponsor that agreed to the exchange. In 1910, August 24, they arrived on the S.S. Breslau at the port in Philadelphia' Penn. They traveled by train across the country to Odessa, Washington. William worked in the wheat fields and soon paid for their passage. In 1917 when many of the families came to the Yakima Valley they also came, first to work in the beet fields, later to acquire land for themselves and farm. The first farmer they worked for was Mr. Clements, located in the Wenas. They lived in a house with another family, the Henry Stroh family. It was in the spring of 1919 that the Eichler family moved to Harrah, Wa. and farmed land owned by a banker in Toppenish. This place was located one mile east and one mile north of Harrah. After two years on this farm they moved to Toppenish and farmed sugar beets. After several more moves, all in the Lower Yakima Valley, they bought a farm south of Wapato. In 1936 they purchased a garbage hauling business in Yakima, sold the farm and bought a small orchard close to Wapato. Their children were; William born in Frank, Russia April 15. 1909; Alma born in Odessa, Wa. December 29, 1910; Reinhold, born July 24, 1912 Frieda, born in Odessa, November 18, 1913; Joanna, born in Odessa, September 16, 1915; Arthur, born at Wenas; Wa, August 24, 1917; Martha, born at Harrah, Wa. February 29, 1920; Esther, born at Toppenish, March 23, 1923; Ella, born at Wapato, January 6, 1925; Edward, born at Wapato October 27, 1926; Lenora, born May 3,1928; Richard, born August 12, 1931. The William Eichler family were members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato, most of the children were confirmed in that church. Mary was a charter member of the Ladies Aid Society. William preceded Mary in death, died May 7, 1955. Mary lived for a time in Wapato, then moved to Yakima, where she attended the Grace Lutheran Church. She died August 20, 1976. Both are interred in Terrace Heights Memorial Park. Also deceased are Alma, Reinhold, Esther, and son William died in 1979, he had lived in Burien, Wash. and is interred there. [By Frieda Brulotte] -- EIRICH John, born in Russia on February 15, 1900. He came to the U.S. with his parents in 1909 and they settled at Lincoln, Nebraska. He married Louise Leika, she was born in 1905. They were married in 1922. They farmed in Nebraska until 1945 when they moved to Sunnyside, WA. They were members of Calvary Lutheran Church of Sunnyside. John died June 27, 1968. His survivors were: wife, four sons and three daughters. Sons, Ralph (died 1924), Dave, Al and Harold. Daughters, Marjorie Rice, Darlene Calico and Kathleen Cantrel. Louise died December 20, 1970, she had several brothers and sisters. Surviving John were brothers, Henry and Carl both of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Alex of Minatare, Nebraska and a sister Kathryn Haupt. [YHR] -- ENGKRAF George, was born at Saratov, Russia. He came to the U.S. with his parents as a young child. His parents were John Engkraf and Elizabeth Deidrich. The family lived at Rupert, Idaho and farmed there for a living. In 1927 he married Rose Rollheiser, daughter of John Rollheiser and Christina Falkenstein. Rose was born in Battleford, Saskatchewan, September 30, 1908. Her family moved to the U.S., she was reared and educated in Portland, Oregon and Rupert, Idaho. John and Rose moved to Yakima in 1938. He was a car man for the Northern Pacific Railroad for 15 years. He worked as custodian for the Yakima Public Schools for 10 years, retiring in 1969. They were members of St. Paul's Catholic Church. John died June 11, 1974, he was survived by Rose. She worked for Del Monte Cannery and retired in 1973. He was also survived by two sons, Leland of Selah and Clarence of Seattle; a sister Mrs. Mary Stranger of Richland, and six brothers; Jake and Joe of Rupert, Idaho, Pete of Toppenish, John of Portland, Oregon and Frank of California. Rose died March 31, 1985, she left a brother, Joseph Rollheiser of San Bernardino, California. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery. A son, Peter Albert was born on November 24, 1914 in Burley, Idaho. He married Magdalen Wolfe in Toppenish. He worked for several construction companies and for U&I Sugar Company, Shell Oil Distributing Co. and for the city of Toppenish. He retired from the city in 1978. He died May 1, 1988 and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Toppenish. The mother of George, Elizabeth (Deidrich) died in Rupert, Idaho on April 30, 1941. She was born on December 25, 1873 in Russia. [YHR] -- ENGLEHART Phillip, born in Odessa, Russia on October 4, 1900. (Immigration information not available) He married Theckla Gartner on November 28, 1925 in Richardson, North Dakota. In 1935 they moved to Yakima. He had served with the Marine Corps from 1920 1922. In Yakima he was president of the Carpenters Union, Local 770 from June 1957 to 1960. He retired in 1965. They were members of Holy Family Parish, Yakima. He died September 15, 1981, survivors include his wife, Theckla, four sons and two daughters. Sons; Erin of Long Beach, Edward of Lake Havasu, James of Poulsbo and Gary of Yakima. Daughters; Terry O'Brien and LaVerna Hager. Four brothers survived him; George, Andrew, Mike and Martin also six sisters; Sophie, Ann, Mary, Elizabeth, Rose and Katie. Langevin Mussetters Funeral Home in charge of burial in Calvary Cemetery. [YHR] -- ERBES William Erbes and Elizabeth Rutz were born in Russia in the late 1800s, he September 7, 1896 and she October 8, 1898, at Denhof, R. He was the son of Peter and Katherine Erbes; she was the daughter of Pete and Katie (Schwop) Rutz. Mrs. Rutz had lived in the United States for 32 years prior to her death. Mr. Erbes was a farm laborer and they had lived in the valley since 1936. They had two children, Bill Erbes and Leona Leikam. Mrs. Erbes died in 1945 and was survived by her husband, the two children, her mother, Katie Weglin, who was living in Windsor, Colorado, and a sister, Mollie Broston, of Platville, Colorado. Rev. Beutenmueller had her funeral service. In 1946, Mr. Erbes married Ruth Kelley. He died in 1978 and was survived by his wife, Ruth, Bill and Leona and also a sister, Mary Kamerzell of Windsor, Colorado. He was a member of the Assembly of God Church at Toppenish and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery. [CFH] -- EUTENEIER Chris was born in Russia 1898, immigrated with parents in 1899. Came to the valley in 1915. Died January 1970. Left four sisters, Lena Lesner, Helen Funkhouser, Emilie Bramrner and Freda Klatt. Shaw & Sons in charge of arrangements. [YHR] -- EUTENEIER Frederick born in Russia December 17, 1875, came to Canada in 1893 then on to the U.S. in 1916. He farmed in the Wiley City area until retirement. Mr. and Mrs. Euteneier celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary May 18, 1955. He died October 6, 1955 after a stroke a month before. Survivors are his wife and three sons, and four daughters, 13 grandchildren and 2 great grand children. Sons: Alfred, Max (married Bonnie B. daughter of Otto and Jewel Black, she was born June 7, 1914 in Pendleton, Ore. She died of cancer March 7, 1988). Frederick John, born in Canada 1910 (married Gladys Caldwell, she died Jan. 20, 1969). [GLC] -- EUTENEIER Gustav, born April 2, 1880 in Russia, husband of Eugenic, father of Mrs. Fred Martin, Yakima. [GLC] -- EUTENEIER Jacob K. was born August 8, 1871 in Russia, the son of John Euteneier and Elizabet E. Nagel. They immigrated to Saskatchewan Province, Canada. He married Helen, she was born May 21, 1888 at Kronau, at Odessa, Russia. She was four years old when her family came to Canada. Jacob and Helen were married in 1901, in 1916 they moved to Montana and on to the Yakima Valley in 1925. He worked on farms, they were members of Grace Lutheran Church. As his health was not good (he was troubled with asthma) he died on July 10, 1940. He left his wife and three sons, John, Fred and Jacob, five daughters, Clara Hammond, Jean Wynn, Jane Doud, Rosalie Praeter and Marie Hennessey. Son John, born in Regina, Sask., Canada in 1906, married Helen Ekstein, born in Russia. John died September 6, 1976 of a car accident. Fred born in Canada in 1909, died June 6, 1976. Jacob born in Canada on March 11, 1908, died June 5, 1935. Helen died April 3, 1963. Shaw & Sons in charge of her burial arrangements, interred in Tahoma Cemetery. [GLC/YHR] -- EUTENEIER John, born in Russia 1891, his wife, Adelina born in 1895. John died July 17, 1949 in Yakima, Adelina in 1953. Both interred in Tahoma Cemetery. [NFN] -- EUTENEIER John and Katie Gross immigrated to Canada with their children in 1899, and settled first in Saskatchewan Province Canada. Information on their sons, Otto and Chris, are written up separately. Otto, born in Russia in 1895, came with his parents, John and Katie, to Saskatchewan, Canada at age 4. He married Katie in 1915, she was born on July 9, 1895 in Austria, came to Canada with her mother and sister in 1911. Otto and she moved to Montana in 1916- 17, and in 1920 they came to Yakima. Katie worked for Gilbert Orchards sorting apples for 53 years. Otto preceded her in death. He died August 12, 1971. She died March 30, 1983. She left two sons, Otto Jr. and Chris, three sisters, Helen Funkhouser, Emilie Brammer and Freda Klatt. Members of Hope Lutheran Church. [YHR] -- EUTENEIER Otto, born in Russia March 25, 1865, son of John and Kate Gross. His wife, Louisa, was born in Russia on Feb. 11, 1867. Moved from Canada to Wiley City in 1920. Otto died May 6, 1930, Louisa on Feb. 14, 1950. Shaw & Son were in charge of arrangements. They are buried at Tahoma Cemetery. They left two sons and five daughters. [GLC] -- FAHN Frank, born in Russia, his wife Ath Tinada from Russia, son Andrew born October 7, 1889 in Russia, died Feb. 5, 1933. He was a single WWI Veteran. Son Carl, born in Russia, June 10, 1890 lived in North Dakota. PVT 56 Infantry died February 9, 1922. [YVGS] -- FAHN George M. born in Russia 1894. His wife was Stefenia Motla, also spelled Stefina, born 1899 in Hungary. George died in 1966, Stefina 1957, both are interred in Calvary Cemetery. [YVGS] -- FEIST John A., born on January 1, 1900 at Odessa, Russia to Anton Feist and Francis Goelker. He came to the U.S. with his parents in 1902 and was raised and educated at Selfridge, North Dakota. He married Johanna Zacher on November 7, 1922 in North Dakota. She was the daughter of Phillip Zacher and Johanna Block. She was born in Russia in 1903. In Selfridge they owned and operated a grocery store. They moved to the Yakima Valley in the 1930s, where he worked as a carpenter at the Hanford Project and later at the Bremerton Shipyards. They were members of St. Paul Cathedral. John died August 27, 1988, he was survived by wife, Johanna, a daughter, Delores Franck of Yakima, three sisters, Elizabeth Wuitschick, Frances Wuitschick and Eva Bonogofsky, all of Yakima; three brothers, Peter of Selfridge, N.D. and Anton and Daniel both of Yakima. He was preceded in death by one brother, Conrad Feist and a sister, Katherine Merck. [LMFH/YHR] -- FENDELL Jack Fendell was born April 14, 1906 in Russia. He was the son of Jacob and Molly (Klippert) Fendell. Mr. Fendell died April 8, 1990 at Wapato. He immigrated to Odessa, Washington in 1914 and in the early 1920s moved to the Wapato area where he worked in the orchards for many years. He married Clara Haack and together they continued living in the Wapato area. He also worked as a barber until his retirement. He attended the Wapato Seventh-Day Adventist Church. He was survived by a sister Marie Wallingford of Wapato. His brother, Bill Fendell, died in 1978. His wife also preceded him in death. He is buried at Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima. [TR] -- FENDELL Jacob, born in Donnhof, Russia on May 14, 1876, the son of George Fendell and Mary E. Dite. He married Molly Klippert in Russia, she was from the village, Walter. She was born in 1879. Their children were all born in Russia, not all survived, some died in infancy or at a young age. The family immigrated to the U.S. in 1912, the children they had were: Marie, born February 25, 1902 m. Carl Wallingford; William (Bill) born November 12, 1904 m. Helen Calahan; Jack, born May 14, 1906. The Fendell family settled at Odessa, Washington. During the few years they lived in Odessa the children received a limited education. They moved to the Yakima Valley in 1919. Jacob found work on the construction of the sugar beet processing plant at Sunnyside, Wa. In 1921 they moved to the Wapato area and rented land on the Jones road and farmed for themselves. They were members of the Lutheran Church in Wapato. Jacob did not live a long life, he died on October 11, 1925 of cancer of the throat. Their children were grown and on their own. Molly married a second time, he was the widower, Conrad Cook. He had two sons, Carl and Fred Cook. Conrad and Molly became members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. Conrad preceded Molly in death, he died in February 1958. Molly lived to the age of 87, spent her last years with her daughter, Marie. She died at age 87, July 15, 1966. Her son, William, is deceased, Marie still lives in Wapato and Jack is in a nursing home at this time. Conrad and Molly are both interred in Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima. [ Information from Marie Wallingford - 1989 - By Frieda Brulotte] -- FENDELL William Fendell came to the United States in 1912 at 8 years of age and settled in Odessa, Washington where he attended school. He moved to Sunnyside in 1919 and then to Wapato in 1921. He farmed soft fruit in the Parker Heights area for many years and then moved to Buena Heights in 1949 where he farmed until his retirement. Mr. Fendell was a lifelong member of the Big Y and Snokist Fruit Growers Cooperative. He truly enjoyed farming. Mr. Fendell was born November 12, 1904 at Denhof, Russia and died December 18, 1986 at Zillah. He was the son of Jacob Fendell and Molly Klippert. On May 10, 1930, he married Helen Calahan and they had three children, Gary, Larry, and Pamela (Rodriguez) all of Zillah. His wife died January 15, 1981. He also had a brother, Jack Fendell of Wapato and a sister Marie Wallingford, also of Wapato. He received his citizenship in Yakima in 1953. His hobbies were fishing and hunting. [CFH] -- FISCHER Adam, born in Strasberg, Russia located near Odessa, Russia. He was born March 28, 1884 to Anton Fischer and Barbara Schwarzenberg. Anton was born September 22, 1859 at Strasberg and Barbara was born June 24, 1857 at Elsass. The Fischer family immigrated to America, arriving at Ellis Island, New York on April 6, 1893. They came to Ipswich, South Dakota and settled with their family. Anton died June 11, 1936 and Barbara had preceded him, she died Oct. 24, 1909. In South Dakota the Fischer's acquired land through a grant from the government. The papers were signed by Pres. Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt. The excellent development of the land by the Fischer family was acknowledged by the issuance of their citizenship with the land grant. They left South Dakota during the time of the severe drought and moved to Grandview, Wa. in 1936. The next year they came to Yakima. Adam was married in 1910 to Barbara Heinz. She died at an early age, on June 20, 1920. They had four daughters; Margaret, Katherine M., Barbara and Reghartha. Adam's 2nd marriage was to Christina Baumgardner. She was born at Columbia, South Dakota on October 16, 1889. She had been married to John Scherr before the marriage to Adam and had three daughters and two sons. Adam and Christina had daughters, Johanna, Christina & Martha (twins); sons, Adam Jr., Gabriel, known as Gabe, and Lawrence. Adam preceded his wife in death, died in November 1983, she died on October 15, 1987. Both belonged to the Catholic Church, and are buried in the Calvary Cemetery at Yakima. [Information from Gabe Fischer - By Frieda Brulotte] -- FOLK Peter, born in Russia in 1882. His wife, Margaret, born in Russia in 1897. Immigration information not known, not much early history on this family. The record of their deaths is listed: Peter died in June 1957 and Margaret on February 22, 1973. Both buried in Calvary Cemetery. Margaret left Yakima for a number of years and came back in 1960. She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. She was survived by four daughters and two sons. Daughters; Marie Purdy, Frances Paladie, Catherine Drang and Lena Molden. Sons; Louis of Havre, Montana and Joseph of Kremlin, Montana. Two brothers, Balzer Buckmeyer of Spokane, Wa., and Lassamere of San Gabriel, California. Three sisters, Katherine Peck, Dorothy Nelson and Theresa Keller. Shaw & Sons in charge of funeral arrangements. [YHR] -- FOLK Teddis/Tedis, born in Russia on May 6, 1878. He was the son of Sabastian Folk and Rozella. His wife, Anna Marie was born in Russia in 1885. They immigrated to the Saskatchewan Province, Canada. From there they came to the Yakima Valley in 1923. They were members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. The children born to them were Michael, Joseph, Theodore, Teddy, Louis Andrew and Benjamin. Their three daughters were, Rozella Wentz, Theresa Cosby and Madelina Toland. Son, Joseph, was born at Holdfast, Saskatchewan on March 16, 1913. He came to Yakima with his parents in 1923. Attended schools in Yakima, was an avid golfer and a professional bowler. He owned and operated Roza Bowling Lanes in Yakima. He married Carolyn Dietz on May 12, 1933. From 1965 until his death on June 22, 1981 he owned and operated the Bristol Barber Shop. Michael was born in 1917 in Canada, attended school in Yakima. He was a barber college instructor for many years. He died at age 61 on December 8, 1978. Teddis A. died April 15, 1938, Anna Marie in January 1960, both interred in Calvary Cemetery. [YHR] -- FOOS Frederick, was born in Russia on June 21, 1886. He was the son of Fred Foos and Eva Markheim in Manel, Russia. He came to America with his parents. He married Katherine Gomer, she was born in Russia March 3, 1897 to Jacob Gomer and Mary Widman/Wiedeman. She came to the U.S. in 1902 with her parents. The Gomer's came to the Yakima Valley in 1922. After living here for a time they moved to Wyoming for a couple of years, returning to the Valley in 1924. Frederick and Katherine lived mostly in the Toppenish and Wapato areas where they raised their family. He preceded her in death, June 27, 1962. Katherine lived to the age of 82, she died August 2, 1979, she was living in Wapato at the time. Her survivors were one daughter, Lillie Moore of Idaho, a brother, Henry Gomer of Toppenish and two sisters, Mary Dymond, and Lydia Tyacke, both of Toppenish. A daughter, Mary, died in 1927. Both Frederick and Katherine are interred in the Elmwood Cemetery at Toppenish. [YHR] -- FOOS My sister, Katherine (Katie) Gomer was born in Doenhof, Russia, March 30, 1897, the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Widman) Gomer. She married Fred Foos in Russia and came to the United States in 1902 and to the valley in 1919. They had lived at Burlton, Iowa; Colorado; Paul, Idaho; and Delta, Utah, before coming to the valley. Mr. Foos was related to the Pister family and they stayed with them for a short time. Fred and Katie farmed at Harrah one year and then moved near Toppenish and farmed with our folks until 1927. At that time they sold out and moved to Torrington, Wyoming where they farmed, raising sugar beets. They were there many years before returning to the valley, buying a little orchard on Campbell Road, near Wapato. Fred died June 27, 1962 and Katie July 31, 1979. They had four children: Marie, who died in 1929; Lillie (Moore); George and Jake. Katie had two brothers, Henry and Jacob and two sisters, Mary Dymond and myself, Lydia (Lichtenberg)Tyacke. [CFH - Information by Lydia (Gomer) Tyacke - By Louise Potter ] -- FOX Conrad, born in Russia on April 10, 1877. Husband of Eva whom he divorced. He died at the home of his daughter, Elizabeth (Fox) Roth, on November 5, 1937. He lived in Wapato, Washington and is buried in Tahoma Cemetery. He left four sons and four daughters. Member of Hope Lutheran Church in Wapato, Wa. [HLC] -- FOX George, born in Russia in 1884, moved to Canada with his wife in 1913, two years later moving to Montana. His wife was Anna B. born in Russia in 1885, two sons were born in Russia. They lived in Montana until 1942 when they moved to Portland, Oregon. George worked in the shipyards until 1945. They then moved to Sunnyside where they lived the rest of their lives. They were members of the Lutheran Church. George died on November 5, 1974, Anna on January 3, 1978. Smith Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Survivors were two daughters, Frieda (Moore), Lydia (Garlow); three sons, David, Phillip, and Rudolph. Son David, born 1908 in Russia, came with his family to Canada when he was 5 years of age. Moved to Sydney, Montana, also lived in Colorado before moving to Portland. He married Helen Helgel in Brighton, Montana. When he came to the Yakima Valley he farmed for a living. He was an early member of Washington Sugar Beet Growers. He died March 5, 1982. [YHR] -- FOX George, first husband of Katherine Reichert, daughter of David Reichert and Katherine Fendell. She was born in Dietal, Russia, April 24, 1906. She came to the U.S. with her parents in 1913. They lived in Nebraska and Montana. She married George Fox, who died in 1927. She moved her family to the Yakima Valley in 1942 with her second husband, Thomas Hindman. He died in 1969. They worked in agriculture. She became a citizen in 1943 and was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Zillah. Since 1980 she has made her home in Yakima. Her third husband, Hayes Childress died in 1981. Katherine passed away May 15, 1988 in the Sunnyside Community Hospital. Internment at the Zillah City Cemetery. She was survived by four daughters and four sons; Mrs. Gordon (Sally) Murray, Mrs. James (Jeanette) Patterson, Mrs. James (Mary Lou) Ball, Catherine Deaton. Sons; John Fred Fox, Herman Fox, Richard Hindman, William Hindman, James C. Hindman, a sister, Mary Grauberger, a brother, Jacob Reichert. [YHR] -- FRANK Franz M. born in Russia in 1882, came to the U.S. in the early 1900's. He first lived in South Dakota then moved to Dickinson, North Dakota where he was a wheat rancher. He retired in 1947 and moved to Yakima, Washington. His wife was Margaret Ditter, born in Russia. They were members of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Franz died March 28, 1977. He left four sons; Frank, Peter, Joseph and Wendell; six daughters, Helen, Jean, Theresa, Monica, Margaret and Ann. His son Joseph, born April 24, 1948, in Dickinson, North Dakota, married Violet L. Allen, June 2, 1948. He died November 10, 1987. He was survived by two daughters, Nancy and Debrah, and six sisters. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Peter, George, Wendell and Frank. [YHR] -- FRANK My father, Phillip Frank, was born in Kautz, Russia, January 20, 1885. He married Katherine Stahlie, to them a son, Phillip, was born, August 19, 1905. His first wife died in Russia. He then married Catherine Haas, February 8, 1909. She was born December 4, 1899 in Neudorf, to Jacob and Katherine Elizabeth (?) Haas. A daughter Catherine, was born August 5, 1911 in Kautz, Russia. They immigrated to the United States, November 25, 1911, on the ship SS Rhein, entering at Baltimore, Maryland. They arrived at Laurel, Montana, December 15, 1911. They lived in Laurel, Bridger, Deer Lodge, and Huntley while in Montana. Born to them while in Montana were the following: Henry, April 27,1913, Laurel, Montana; William, July 21, 1914, Bridger, Montana; Lydia, March 7, 1916, Laurel, Montana; George, June 18, 1918, Deer Lodge, Montana; Mary, June 11, 1920, Huntley, Montana. They worked in sugar beets in Montana. Before moving to Huntley, they moved to Warden, Montana, also working in sugar beets, then to Missoula, Huntley and Billings. They moved to Toppenish, Washington, the winter of 1920 or 21, possibly in January. Henry remembers it being very cold waiting at the train depot. Born to them were the following: Jacob, June 8, 1922, Toppenish, Washington and Victor, March 27, 1924. They moved to Moxee, Washington and bought a farm and raised hops. Born to them was a son, Alex, February 25, 1927. Mother, Catherine, passed away in Yakima, Washington, March 8, 1927. Dad married a third wife, Anna Hart (Hard"), January 26, 1936, she had been married before and had three children. They lived at Terrace Heights, Moxee, Wiley City, and Lower Naches, where they picked apples and milked cows, they also farmed in Wapato and in Selah they had 20 acres of orchard. My father, Phillip, passed away November 8, 1970. Told to Bernice Elledge by Henry and Margaret Frank. Note: Their son, Jacob, was President of the Central Washington Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia in Yakima in 1986. He and his wife, Bess, were very active members. He passed away in the late fall of 1989. Henry and Margaret also belong to this chapter. -- FREAUF George, born in Russia in 1884, married Christine Kaiser in 1903, she was born in Norka, Russia in 1885. They came to the U.S. in 1908 with his parents settling in Berthoud, Colorado. George worked on the railroads for many years. They moved to the Yakima area, owned and operated Freauff Market, retiring in 1956. They were early members of the Lutheran Church. Christina died June 3, 1973 at age 86, George on October 4, 1977 at age 93, longtime Sunnyside residents. Survivors include four sons; Walter and Conrad both of Sunnyside, William of Johnstown, Colorado, and John of Portland, Ore., two daughters, Mrs. Jerry (Lydia) Parkhurst of Selah, and Mrs. George (Leone) Hohnstein of Portland, Ore., a sister Mrs. Mollie Nuse of Sunnyside. Son, Conrad born Dec. 17, 1912 at Berthoud, Colorado, m. Dorothy Baker on Sept. 18, 1936. Conrad died April 22, 1985. Smith Funeral Home in charge of arrangements for George and McIntosh Funeral Home for Christina. [YHR] -- FRECHEL Conrad Frechel was born in Russia July 6, 1866. He was the son of Jacob Freckel. Mr. Freckel was a laborer and died at Prosser September 24, 1940. [MM] -- FRIES John, born in Beideck, Russia in 1874. He served five years in the Russian Army. He married Maria Lochman in 1900. She was born in Stephan, Russia on January 16, 1876, the daughter of Mr. Lochman and Elizabeth Leis of Kalka, Russia. John came to the U.S. in 1910, he went to Lincoln, Nebraska and worked as a laborer. He saved the passage for his family to follow him to the U.S. Maria lived in Salawha, Russia when she and the children left Russia. She with her five children traveled to Bremen, Germany, where they boarded the ship S.S. Brandenburg, arriving at the port of Philadelphia on August 21, 1912. On the ship's manifest Maria was described as having brown eyes, five feet five inches in height, age 30. On the manifest John's Lincoln address was 130 G. Street. They lived in Lincoln until 1917 when they moved to the Yakima Valley. The 1913 census of Lincoln listed the Fries family as having eight members. Those born in Russia were: Alex, born February 9, 1902 in Baku, Russia. He filed for his citizenship January 22, 1935, he was a laborer. He was married and divorced, had one daughter. He died May 8, 1943. Other children were: Marie born in Baku, Russia; Katherine born in 1907 in Bavelofka, Russia m. Ted Patnode; Olga born in 1909 in Bavelofka, Russia m. Harry Collett; Lydia born in 1910 in Beideck, Russia m. Nick Garman; Emma born in 1912 in Lincoln, Nebraska, m. Joe Tucker; John born February 11, 1915 at Lincoln Nebraska. He graduated from Wapato High School. He worked for McGuire Lumber Company and Eliott Bay Lumber Co., he retired in 1975, married Aileen Jewett, March 29, 1941. John died April 12, 1981; Reinhold/Rynold, born September 15,1918 in Wapato. He lived in Wapato all his life. He served in WWII, was a member of American Legion Post #133. He died July 4, 1975. Other children were: Frieda Cox and Victor of Seattle. The Fries family had been members of the Hope Lutheran Church in Wapato. John died June 26, 1956 and Marie on April 13, 1957, both are buried in the Reservation Community Memorial Park near Wapato. [SMFH/YHR - 1913 Lincoln Census - Ship's Manifest] -- FUNKNER Michael, born in Russia, lived in Wapato for a few years, during which time he was listed in the Pilgrim Congregational Church membership records in 1936. He left the area. [PCC] -- GANS John, born in Bessarabia, Russia on April 2, 1890. His parents were Ludwig Gans and Christina Stublmiller. The family immigrated to the U.S. in 1904 and settled in the Quincy, Wa. area. John worked on the Columbia River Bridge and also operated the Whiskey Dick Ferry, before coming to the Yakima Valley in 1910. He married Katharina Kehrer on October 24, 1912 in Yakima, she was the daughter of M. Kehrer and Magdalena Schaal. Katherine was born in Teplitz, Bessarabia on September 23, 1889. Her family immigrated to the U.S. in 1903. They settled in Odessa, Washington then Quincy where they cleared sagebrush, picked rocks and tilled the ground. They didn't know what hops were but heard from others there were hops to pick in the Yakima Valley. Bringing the bare necessities they came in a lumber wagon, walking part of the way to pick hops. Hop picking was hard. They were picked in big coffee barrels and put into bins. It was slow and tedious work. After much effort they were able to do well. Katharina made $2.00 a day. After hop picking they dug potatoes. When they went back to Quincy they had earned $400.00. That was more than they made off the homestead, and they could pay their debts. The family returned a second year. They could not resist the Yakima Valley and moved to the valley in 1910. Mr. Kehrer took care of an orchard. Katharina did housework, one year she worked for W.W. Robertson family, he was the Yakima newspaper publisher. John Gans and Katharina Kehrer met in Quincy, they were married in Yakima. They lived around the Wapato area, working at farm work, finally buying 20 acres four miles west of Wapato. John hauled lumber from Goldendale to build a house. The Gans were charter members of Hope Lutheran Church of Wapato. Her family, the Kehrers, started the church by holding the first services in their home. John was a member of the Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, served on the school board and on the Wapato City Board of the Reservation Community Cemetery. He did custom threshing and clover seed hulling with steam engine and horses, later with tractors. The Gans were involved in establishing the irrigation system. He was a pioneer mint grower and operated one of the first mint stills in the area. John died February 11, 1965, Katharina lived to the age of 91, she had played an important role as an early pioneer. She was an active member in the church and taught Sunday school for 25 years, was also a well known for the beautiful flowers she grew. She died in July 1981. She left a son, George of Vancouver, Wa., daughters, Elsie Walters of Yakima, Alma Worthington of Bellevue and Florence Klebaum of Wapato. Two brothers, Andrew Kehrer of Yakima and Paul of Sequim, Wa., a sister Mary Garbrect of Chicago. Interment in the Reservation Community Memorial Park. [Excerpts from an article in the early history of Wapato Information from Florence Klebaum - By Frieda Brulotte- YHR] -- GARMAN Balzer, born in Russia, came to the U.S. and settled in Silva, North Dakota. Moved to the Yakima Valley in 1946. He was a mechanic by trade. He died in 1976 at age 66, survived by wife Celia, three sons, Kenneth of Portland, Or., Richard and James of Yakima, two daughters, Eleanor Sevigny, Florence McGuire and two brothers, Malt and Joseph of Balta, Minnesota, and one sister, Mrs. Anna Bohl of North Dakota. Langevin Mussetter Funeral Home was in charge of the funeral arrangements. [LMFH/YHR] -- GARMAN John, born in South Russia, Oct. 18, 1871, son of William Garman and Dorothea Eberts. His wife, Martha was born at Odessa, Russia, Feb. 2, 1873. She was the daughter of Michalas Denis and Mariana Heigel, they were of the Catholic Faith. Immigration date unknown. Moved to the state of Washington to Ritzville, Wa. in 1906, and to the Yakima Valley in 1907. A son John, was born Jan. 13, 1912 at Toppenish, Wa. John's wife was Frieda ? . John died June 25, 1982. A second son Nicholas, was born at Ritzville, Wa., in 1907. He was a member of the Resurrection Catholic Church of Zillah. He was an orchardist. He died July 6, 1976. He was survived by his wife Lydia, two sons, Robert and John, three daughters, Helen, Marjorie and Eleanor. John and Martha lived at Toppenish. He died July 28, 1939, Martha died October 17, 1938. Both are buried in Elmwood. [Elmwood Cemetery - YHR] -- GARMAN The Garman family also lived in Germantown. John Garman was born in Russia and his wife, Martha (Dents) Garman, was born in Odessa, Russia. His father was William Garman and his mother was Dorothy Eberts. At the time of his death, he had lived 33 years in the state. Mrs. Garman died about 9 months before her husband, in October 1938, and he in July of 1939. Mrs. Garman's parents were Michalas Denis and Mariana Heigel. They had three children. They had a small acreage in Germantown where they had a garden, some pigs and a cow. Mr. Garman was a common laborer. They were members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church and are buried at Elmwood Cemetery. [By Leona (Eberts) Bangs - CFH] -- GEIGER Heronamus, better known as Harry was born at Karlsrahe, Russia on January 5, 1892. Karlsruhe is located at Odessa, Russia (Southern) on the Black Sea. Harry came to the U.S. with his parents who settled in North Dakota. He married Esabel Yantzer, who also was born at Odessa, Russia, birthdate was November 19, 1892. Her family immigrated to the U.S. and came to North Dakota. To Harry and Esabel were born, Catherine on November 16, 1914, she married Wendlin Krug; Tillie born December 2, 1917, she married Fred St. George; Cecelia born September 11, 1918, died Jan. 8, 1980; Magdelene born October 26, 1920, married Archie Lond; Theodore (Ted) Geiger born July 7, 1926, married Joan Bennett. The family moved to the Yakima Valley 1934. Their first work was for the Beauchene family. They were hop growers. The whole family worked picking hops during the season. Other employment was with the Cascade Lumber Co., cannery work for the women, and other. They were a Catholic family, members of St. Paul's Cathedral. German was spoken in the home. Heronamus died September 5, 1959 and Esabel on November 5, 1968. [Information from Magdalene Long, April 23, 1988 - By Frieda Brulotte] -- GERMAN William German, who was born January 1, 1877 in South Russia, died April 9, 1933 at Toppenish. His parents were William German and Dorotha (Steele) German, also born in South Russia. He and his wife, Emma, lived in Zillah where he was a laborer. They were members of the Catholic faith, buried at the Zillah Cemetery. [CFH] -- GETTMAN David, born in Russia in 1897, he came to the U.S. with his parents as a young boy. They settled at Odessa, Wash., where David was employed as a construction worker. Before moving to Yakima he had lived in California for many years. The move to Yakima was in 1958. They had been members of the Central Lutheran Church. His survivors include his wife, Lizette, two step-daughters; Mrs. Frances Hewling and Mrs. Mary Seefried; two step-sons, H.L. Balholm and Richard Balholm, and a brother George Gettman of Odessa, Washington. Keith & Keith Funeral Home in charge of burial arrangement. [YHR] -- GIMBEL Theophile, born in Russia on November 19, 1897. His parents were Henry Gimbel and Katherine Ketterling. He died August 1, 1948, left his wife, Barbara. Burial was in the Old Sunnyside Cemetery. [This name was in the obit file in Yakima Valley Genealogical Society.] -- GOERLITZ Emilie, born in Russia February 16, 1875, her family name was Scheuermann. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Yakima. Died July 2, 1909 in North Yakima. This item was written in German in the church journal. n.f.n. [GLC] -- GOMER Henry Gomer was born October 23, 1901 at Doenhof, Russia. He was the son of Jacob and Marie (Wiedeman) Gomer also born at Doenhof. The family immigrated to the United States in 1902 (obit says 3 years old when emigrating). He married Mollie Kieser in 1922. He was employed by the U & I Sugar Company for 46 years, retiring as assistant superintendent in 1965. He was a member of the American Federation of Grain Growers Union, having held several offices. He was an active member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Toppenish, being the last surviving male charter member of the church. Mr. Gomer died June 4, 1980. He was survived by two children; Walter of Lafayette, CA and Ruby Gomer of Tacoma and also two sisters, Lydia Tyacke and Mary Dymond of Toppenish. [CFH/YHR] -- GOMER My dad, Jacob Gomer, was born in Doenhof, Russia, January 11, 1862. My mother, Marie Katherine Weidman, was born March 15, 1867, also in Doenhof. They had five children, three of them born in Russia before they immigrated to the United States in 1902. They were: Jacob, Jr.; Katie, who married Fred Foos; and Henry. I was born in Windsor, Colorado in 1908 and my sister, Mary, who married Mr. Dymond, was born in Iowa. My folks went first to Burlton, Iowa and then to Colorado where we lived until I was seven years old. Then we went to Paul, Idaho, that was where my mother and brother died. We were there two years and then moved to Delta, Utah. I went to school at Sugarville, Utah. From there we moved to Washington, to Harrah, and I went to school at the Guyette School. I could have gone to Harrah to school, I started there, but the Guyette School was closer, a small country school. Then I went to school in the Toppenish School District, at the Berrick School, located where Oldenway crosses the railroad tracks. The school was later sold and has been converted to a home. We came to the valley in 1919. My father farmed, renting farms from the U & I Sugar Company. The first was 8 or 9 miles west of Toppenish and then farmed one 3 miles west of town. Also a farm on Track and Branch roads. We moved around so much that I didn't finish school, I was 16 but so far behind that I dropped out. I remember my folks talking about the trip on the boat, the number of days, etc., but I was only 11 when my mother died and we didn't talk about it much after that. My mother had five girls and five boys in Russia, they got diphtheria and they didn't know what to do about it in those days and all but three died. The story about our family coming to the valley is interesting. There were four families that came to the valley together; my family; my sister, Katie and her husband, Fred Foos; their daughter and her husband; and the Ritter family, the Ritters had about six or seven kids. We came on the train, we would load our animals in one end of the boxcar and our furniture in the other and one person would stay in the caboose to feed and water the animals, there were two boxcars, and the rest of us rode in the passenger train. When we got to the valley, we stayed with the George Pister family, they were related to my brother- in-law, Fred Foos. We stayed with them until the house we rented from the sugar company was empty. The Ritter family stayed at the hotel and cooked their meals at the Herman home (Elizabeth Roth's folks). When our house was finally empty, an eight room house, all four families moved in. We had a big dining room, big living room, kitchen and a bedroom downstairs and the rest of the bedrooms were upstairs. As the Ritters were just going to be there until their house was empty, they put their stove in the front room. Two big tables were put together in the dining room. Our stove was in the kitchen, we would cook what we wanted and they cooked what they wanted and we set it on the table and everyone ate, it didn't make any difference who brought it or what it was. Everyone got along just fine, no arguments, everything was just perfect. The Ritters were no relation, they were living in Utah too, and when we decided to move here they did too, so we all came together. Years later we moved to Toppenish. My dad died at Toppenish July 30, 1951, he was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. His father was William Gomer. [By Lydia Gomer Lichtenberg Tyacke] -- GOODFRIED Ernest, listed in the 1910 Yakima County Census. Ernest age 32 (1878) born in Russia; Lizzie (wife) born 1877 in Russia; Tillie age 10 (1900) born in Russia; Alexander age 8 (1902) born in Russia; Richard age 6 (1904) in Washington State; Santana age 3, (1907) in Washington State; Frieda age 1 born in Washington State; Clifford age 3 most Ernest received his naturalization papers in 1904. [1910 Yakima County Census] -- GRAFF Jacob Graff was born in Russia June 15, 1900. He was the son of Jacob and Magdalina (Rutt) Graff. He was married to Helen Hockster and at the time of his death, January 17, 1973, he was survived by his wife, four children; Ervin, Walter, Eddie and Irene and also a brother, Ted Graff of Zillah and a sister, Mrs. Dina Vietz of Denhoff, North Dakota. He had lived in the valley and was a farmer. He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and is buried at the Zillah Cemetery. [CFH] -- GRAFF John P. Graff was born in Russia April 15, 1882. His mother's name was Christina. He died January 21, 1957 at Prosser. He was married to Margaret Harris. A son, John Peter was born February 28, 1914 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He died May 24, 1958. His occupation was listed as hard rock miner. [MM] -- GRAUBERGER Henry and Eva Grauberger were residents of Toppenish, having lived there since 1938. Henry was the son of George Grauberger and Katharine (Galratz) Grauberger, and was born December 26, 1885 in Russia. At the time of his death, June 6, 1948, he was survived by his wife, Eva, a daughter, Marie Sack of Kennewick, and a son, Herman Grauberger, of Toppenish. He was also survived by a brother George Grauberger of Deerfield, Kansas. Eva was born in Russia in 1884. She died November 22, 1961. Henry was a farm laborer. They were members of the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Toppenish. They are buried at Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima. [CFH] -- GREEN Jacob, Jr. born August 6, 1906 in Neu Norka, Russia, son of Jacob Green and Katherine Heimbigner. With his family he came to the U.S. in April 1912. The family settled at Culbertson, Montana. Jacob started school there. Two years later the family moved to Walla Walla in 1914. In 1916, the returned to Culbertson, where they farmed. On December 26, 1927 he married Amelia Damm in Culbertson. In 1944 the Greens moved to the Yakima Valley. Jacob worked for the U & I Sugar Company until he retired in 1969. He loved music, the outdoors and gardening. Jacob died May 3, 1983 at Toppenish, his survivors were his wife, Amelia, a son Harold of Toppenish, two daughters; Mrs. Clarence (Charlotte) Kramer of Portland, Mrs. John (Bernice) Mason of Toppenish. He also left three brothers; George of Harlem, Montana, John of Havre, Montana and Edward of Rockford, III. Three sisters; Mrs. Frieda Skinner of Toppenish, Mrs. Katherine Voss of Rockton, Ill., Mrs. Esther Gessinger of Lake Havasu, Arizona. Colonial Funeral Home in Toppenish in charge of burial arrangements. [YHR/CFH] -- GREEN John Conrad, born January 12, 1891 in Rosenfelt, Russia. He was the son of George Green and Sopie Pope. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1912, settled at St. Louis, Missouri for a time. He married Katherine Nieu, daughter of Louis Nieu and Madeline Baker, she was born December 29, 1890. They moved from St. Louis to Culverton, Montana, where they homesteaded. In 1937 they moved to Toppenish, Wa., where they farmed. To them were born two sons and five daughters. Katherine died May 1, 1955; John soon remarried, his second wife was Mollie Damm, she also preceded him in death, she died in 1972. John's son, Daniel, was born January 17, 1918 at Froid, Montana. He moved with the family to the Yakima Valley and farmed with his father until he enlisted in the Army Air Force. He was a life member of the V.F.W., a member of the Toppenish Eagles. After his military service he worked for the city of Toppenish from 1947 to 1976. He then worked for the Yakima Indian Nation teaching heavy equipment operation. Daniel died March 11, 1989. Other children were son George, five daughters Lydia Reichert, Sue Kieser, Elsie Stevens, Marie Gandrud and Hilda Leutenhaus. John died January 25, 1980, Colonial Funeral Home at Toppenish was in charge of funeral arrangements. [YHR] -- GREEN My folks were both born in Russia, my mom at Rosenfeld, I don't know just where my dad was born. They were married in Russia and had three sons who died there. Leaving Russia in about 1917, they went first to St. Louis then Montana before coming to the Yakima Valley in 1937. Dad farmed towards Granger, he raised sugar beets for several years and then he worked for the U & I Sugar Company until 1955 when mom died. He then moved to Montana and while there married a Mrs. Damm, then returned to Toppenish. My dad was John Conrad Green, he was born January 12, 1891 to George Green and Sophia Pope. My mother was Katherine (Nye) Green, she was the daughter of Louis Nye and Madeline Baker and was born December 29, 1890. We didn't know our grandparents as they didn't come to America nor did any of their family. My parents had seven children, two sons, George and Dan, and five daughters: myself, Lydia Reichert; Sue Kieser; Elsie Stevens; Marie Gandrud; and Hilda Leutkenhaus. Dad died January 23, 1980 and mother May 11, 1955. [By Lydia (Green) Reichert - CFH] -- GREENWALT Theodore, born in Toltz, Russia in 1885, he immigrated to the U.S. in 1910 and had been in Yakima since 1929. He worked as a section hand for the Northern Pacific Railroad from 1933 to 1957. He died August 17, 1969, he had no known relatives. Langevin Mussetter Funeral Home in charge of burial arrangements. [YHR] -- GREER Hannah, born at Odessa, Russia on March 5, 1891. As a teenager she came to the U.S. to Odessa, Washington. In 1906 she came to Yakima where she married Floyd Greer. Grace Lutheran Church shows her to have been a member. She worked for the Roches Fruit Company for 30 years. Mrs. Greer died January 17, 1964 at age 73. Her survivors were her husband Floyd and two daughters, one son and seven grandchildren and two great- grandchildren. Shaw & Sons in charge of funeral arrangements, she is buried in Tahoma Cemetery. [GLC] -- GROSS August, born in Russia on December 20, 1842. He and Emerline Bottcher were married in Russia in 1874. She was born in Russia on November 11, 1857. If records are correct she was 17 years of age when she was married. They immigrated to the U.S. in 1888, first to Wisconsin and to Yakima in 1905. August died September 2, 1909. They lived in North Yakima (which was the name of Yakima at that time). The entry in the Grace Lutheran Church was written in the German language. Emerline died on October 16, 1933. She left one son and five daughters, nine grand children and three great-grandchildren. [GLC] -- GROSS Coming to the valley in 1920 and settling in Germantown was Christian Andrew Gross and his wife Regina. They were both born in Russia, he in 1884 and she in 1891. He was a laborer and they were of the Catholic faith. They were survived by seven children, Mary Ann Merchant; Chris; Joe; Vincent; Gerald; Gene and Frank. Mrs. Gross died May 2, 1952 at Toppenish, Mr. Gross died February 17, 1951, also at Toppenish. Mrs. Gross was also survived by three brothers, Ned Hoffard, Frank Hoffard and Vincent Hoffard. -- GROSZ Gustav, born September 3, 1879 in South Russia in the village, Gnadental. Gustav left Russia at the age of 17 as a "stow-away". His earliest years in America were spent in both North and South Dakota. He eventually found his way to Quincy, Washington. Living in Quincy at the time was the Schmitt family. He met Mathilda Schmitt and they were married on Feb. 16, 1908. Mathilda was born January 6, 1887 in Russia. She was a young child when the family immigrated to America. They lived in Quincy and also in Wenatchee and Cashmere, Wa. Gustav worked in the orchards primarily, he established a reputation as a good orchardman. While living in that area, the children born to them were, Elsie, April 26, 1910, son Oscar on December 20, 1911, and Frieda on July 25, 1913. They moved to the Yakima Valley in the 1920s, settling at Harrah, Wa. Some of their neighbors were the Luft family, Rothemeyer and Hein families. They soon acquired land for themselves and Mr. Grosz and his son, Oscar, raised truck gardening crops as well as other crops. Besides his own farming he worked for other ranchers (mostly in orchards). He was manager for the Lloyd Garretson Orchards for many years. They retired from farming and moved to Yakima. Gustav preceded his wife in death, he died on October 27, 1951, Mathilda on July 24, 1953. Both are buried in Tahoma Cemetery, Yakima. They had been affiliated with the Lutheran Church. [Information from Elsie (Grosz) Treise - 1988 --By Frieda Brulotte] -- HAEGER My dad was Reinhold Haeger and my mother was Frieda Free. My folks were married about 1917 and they came to the valley in the late 1930s. Dad did farm work and worked mainly for Benz. My dad was quite young when the family came to the United States, to Reeder or Hettinger, North Dakota. We farmed there and then went to South Dakota, around Belle Fourche. We worked in the sugar beets for some time, that is where dad got his citizenship. There were eleven children born to my folks, Irene Mauch; Lawrence; Ella (Mrs. Henry) Pope; Alma (Mrs. Lloyd) Oxford; Harry; Violet (Mrs. Joe) Webster; Edwin; Leo; Melvin; Miss Gladys Haeger; and Dorothy (Mrs. Dick) Erickson. Dad had two brothers, Rudolph and Israel and three sisters, Miss Emma Haeger; Esther (Mrs. Arthur) Brenneise; and Christina (Mrs. Jake) Free. The first six children were born in North Dakota and the other five in South Dakota. Dad was born in Odessa, Russia in 1892, the son of Jacob and Christina Haeger and died at Toppenish September 4, 1956. He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Dad's sister, Christina, was married to mother's brother, Jake. [Information from Ella (Haeger) Pope -- By Louise Potter- CFH] -- HAHN Andrew, born in Leipzig, Russia. At age 18, he came to the U.S., living first in Hebron, North Dakota. He married Emma Fiedler in Mott, North Dakota in 1916. She was born in Russia in 1902. They farmed in North Dakota for a time then moved to Lodi, Calif. Mr. & Mrs. Hahn returned to North Dakota in 1925, then moved to Sunnyside in the Yakima Valley in 1942. He was employed on the Hanford Project, was on a construction crew for the Priest River Dam on the Columbia River. He was also employed by the Washington State Cooperative until retirement. They were members of the Calvary Lutheran Church. He died March 21, 1972 and Emma on April 12, 1986. [YHR] -- HARTINGER Matilda (Tillie R.), born in Odessa, Russia to Peter and Elizabeth Groll. They lived in Dickinson, North Dakota where she married Herman Hartinger on September 10, 1929. Matilda was a member of St. Paul's Cathedral. She was a homemaker and enjoyed gardening and reading. She died on November 28, 1988, and was survived by her husband, Herman of Yakima, two sons, Donald of Redmond and William Hartinger of Seattle; a sister, Eleanor Amann of Virginia. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Loretta Hallgrath, a sister, Kathryn Groll and five brothers. Funeral services were held by Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home. [YHR] -- HARTMAN Joseph Hartman died April 5, 1947 at Toppenish. He was born in Russia October 9,1869, the son of Peter and Theresa Hartman who were born in Germany. He had lived in Toppenish 13 years prior to his death and came to the United States in 1888 at 19 years of age. His wife, Elizabeth, was the daughter of Jacob Aichele. She was born in South Russia September 22, 1876. She died November 14,1953 in Toppenish. Mr. & Mrs. Hartman had the following children: Fred, Otto, Joe, Israel, Rose (Leidy), Leah (Schimke), Ida (Stebner), and Esther (Stebner). Mrs. Hartman was survived by a sister, Dora Wagner and two brothers, Fred and John Aichele. A son, David, died in 1948. They were members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and are buried in the Zillah Cemetery. [CFH] -- HAUF Henry, born in Merkel, Russia on May 11, 1868. He and Katherine Flohr were married in Russia in 1894. They immigrated to the U.S. in 1900, settled first in South Dakota. From South Dakota they moved to Nebraska and Colorado, and in 1919 they came to the Yakima Valley. They lived in the Toppenish area. There children were: Katherine, their oldest child, was born in Russia in 1896; William James, born in Nebraska in 1901, died August 12, 1973; Henry born at Naper, Ne., married Mollie Foos; Walter born in 1905, married Elizabeth Zier; August born on September 27, 1907 at Dallas, So. Dakota, he died September 26, 1968; Edwin - married Bertha Brown on September 27, 1931; Millie married Jake Foos; Clifford born July 10, 1915, he served in WWII, Sgt. 9th Marine division. Clifford died March 15, 1945. Esther. married Bud Rogstad; Elsie married J.C. Smith. Henry and Katherine lived at Zillah, when he died in 1949. She lived at Zillah until 1953, when she moved to Yakima. She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. She lived to the age of 97, and died December 27, 1971. [Information from Walter Hauf By Frieda Brulotte - LMFH/YHR] -- HAUFF Henry Hauff, who had lived in the valley 30 years, died June 19, 1949 at Toppenish. He was born May 11, 1868 at Merkel, Russia. He was survived by his wife, Katherine and nine children: Mollie Foos, Gering, Nebraska; Katherine Hauff, Spokane; Elsie Smith and Esther Hauff, Toppenish; Henry Hauff, Toppenish; Jimmie and August Hauff of Seattle; and Eddie and Walter Hauff of Yakima. He was also survived by a sister, Eva Kautz. Elder L. C. Baughman had the service. [CFH] -- HAUPT Gottlieb, born in Bessarabia, Romania in 1882. They immigrated to Canada where he spent his early years. In 1906 he moved to Milton- Freewater, Oregon. They farmed there until 1955 when they moved to Sunnyside. This wife Christina died in 1961, she was born in 1888. He was a long time member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. He died June 1, 1969. Survivors were four daughters and four sons. Sons; Arthur, Otto, Robert and Larry; daughters, Emily Henriksen, Helen Silva, Rosalie Duncan and Esther Mitchell. Burial in the Sunnyside Cemetery. [YHR] -- HEBERLEIN Jacob, born September 22, 1886 in Russia. He was a son of Jacob Heberlein and Agnes Baker. His wife, Pauline was an early resident of the Yakima Valley. Pauline was born in Russia on August 28, 1892. Jacob died at the early age of 39 September 19, 1925. They were living in the city of Wapato, Wa. They were members of the Hope Lutheran Church. He was survived by his wife and two sons, Eugene and Herbert, and two daughters, Molly and Frieda. The son, Eugene was born in Wapato in 1924, he died August 21, 1975. He was a veteran of WWII. He had served in the U.S. Army. Pauline married a second time, to Mr. Luftborrow, they lived in Yakima. [MFH] -- HEBERLEIN John, born March 28, 1885 in Russia. He died January 3, 1924 while living at Outlook, Wa. He was the son of Henry Heberlein and Mary Alice Albert. John's wife's name was Catherine. [Old Sunnyside Cemetery ] -- HEDT Katherine Hauck Hedt of Toppenish died January 20, 1939. She was born November 23, 1860 in Russia. Her parents, John Sautner and Margaret (Yaley) Sautner were both born in Germany. She had lived 38 years in the state. She was married to John Hedt. She was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery. [CFH] -- HEILMAN Joseph Conrad Heilman had lived in the Yakima Valley 25 years at the time of his death. He was born in 1863 in Odessa, Russia. His wife, Kate, was the daughter of Peter and Denise Martel also born in Russia. He was a farmer for many years, having lived in North Dakota prior to coming to the valley making their home at Germantown. They were members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church and are buried at Elmwood Cemetery. At the time of Mr. Heilman's death, he was survived by four children, Katie Wentz; Mary Wentz; Conrad Heilman and William Heilman. He also had a sister, Hannah Schloss. Mr. Heilman died December 27, 1944 at Toppenish. He had lived in the United States 38 years. Mrs. Heilman died January 7, 1936. [CFH] -- HEILMAN Mathias (Matt) Heilman and his family came to the Yakima Valley in about 1906. He was born in Josefstal, Ukraine, Russia in the year 1879. His wife, Magdalena Wingerter, was born in 1877 at Elsass, Ukraine, Russia. They both died at Toppenish in 1939 and are buried at Calvary Cemetery in Yakima, members of the Catholic Church. Magdalena was the daughter of Kasimir and Katharina (German) Wingerter. They were married in Russia and came to the United States in 1898 as did her parents. At that time they had two children, Katherine and Bertha with another born on the ship while crossing the Atlantic. That child died aboard ship. Six other children were born to them: Madgalena (Mrs. Henry Thalheimer); Matthew (married Sena Thalheimer); Martin (married Caroline Schmidt); John (married Ethel Heidrick); Joseph (married twice, first to Kate and then to Mary Brown); and Casimer (married Dorothy Hixon). Katherine married John Andreas and Bertha married Anthony (Tony) Andreas. The family's route of migration in the United States was: Bowdle, Edmunds County, South Dakota; Ritzville and Toppenish. [Information from Barbara (Wingardner) Toop - By Louise Potter] -- HEILMAN Matthew, born on October 12, 1870 in the Odessa, Russia region. He married Magdalina Wingerter/Wingardner, daughter of Casimir Wingardner and Catherine Garman. She was born on July 4, 1868 at Elsass, Russia. Matthew served in the Russian Army, he was in the Cavalry. He and his wife and two children immigrated to the U.S. in 1897. They were accompanied by her parents. The port of entry to the U.S. was New York. The went to Eureka, South Dakota. He was a farmer, but also worked for the railroad. He became a naturalized citizen. This family was of the Catholic Faith. They moved to the Yakima Valley in 1907 and made their home at Toppenish. He farmed on the Indian Reservation. In 1910 they made a move to the coast of Washington where they ran a clam cannery near Westport. This venture lasted only one year, returning to the Yakima Valley. The 1910 census of Yakima County listed this family as; Matthew, age 40; wife Magdalina, age 42; daughter Katherine, age 15; Bertha, 14; Magdalina, 11; Mathias, 7; Martin, 5; John, 4; and Joseph, age 1, (a son Casimer was born in 1911). The children of Matthew and Magdalina were: Katherine, born in Russia in 1894, married John Andreas, she died in 1973; Bertha, born 1896, married Anthony Andreas, died in 1939; Magdalina born 1898 in South Dakota, married Henry Thalheimer, she died August 22, 1988, her husband preceded her in death. They were farmers & members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church. Other children were: Matthew, born 1903 in South Dakota, married Sena Thalheimer, died 1977; Martin, born March 9, 1905 in Ritzville, Wa. married Carolina Schmidt, died November 6, 1988; John, born in Ritzville, married Apolonia Hidrick, he died in 1966; Joseph, born 1909, married Mary Begenhart, he is deceased; Casimer, born August 23, 1911 at Toppenish, Wa., married Dorothy Hixon, he is the only survivor of this family. They are retired. Their children are, Pauline, born June 4, 1932. Casmer, born February 19, 1936. Frederick/Fred, born May 27, 1939. Phyllis, born September 11, 1941. Joyce, born August 4, 1942. Douglas, born June 5, 1951. Casmer's parents, Matthew and Magdalina are both interred in Calvary Cemetery at Yakima. Matthew died February 24, 1939 and Magdalina on September 15, 1939. [Information from Dorothy Hixson Heilman - By Frieda Brulotte] -- HEIM Gottlieb, born in Russia in 1883. He came to the U.S. as a teenager of 14 (1907). He married Mary Bogner, born in Bessarabia, Russia to Ferdinand Bogner and Katherine Renford, in 1890. They came to the Yakima Valley in the 1930s. He was a farmer in the Toppenish area until his retirement. He died June 21, 1970. His survivors were, wife Mary, two sons and six daughter. His sons were; Robert and Edward both of Klamath Falls, Ore. Daughters; Mrs. Ida Cravens, Mary Duffy, Emma Brum, Martha Hahn, Lena Baker and Clara Sheets. Also, four brothers and one sister. They were members of the Central Assembly of God Church. Mary lived to the age of 86. She died April 17, 1976. The son, Robert, died in 1975. [YHR] -- HEIM John, born in Russia on April 11, 1879. He immigrated to the U.S. by first going to Argentina, South America. His wife was Eva K. Spahn, born May 1, 1885. She was the daughter of Jacob Spahn. John's parents were F.W. Heim and Katherine Gallig. This family was of the Catholic faith. He died October 7, 1923. His wife, Eva, died April 22, 1939. Both are buried in Elmwood Cemetery at Toppenish. [MFH] -- HEIM Mary Bogner Heim was born September 21, 1889 at Bessarabia, Russia, probably at Tarutino as her brother, Emanuel Bogner, was born there in 1887. She was the daughter of Ferdinand and Katherine (Remfert) Bogner. She was married to Gottlieb Heim and at the time of her death was survived by seven children: Emma Blum; Ida Cravens; Lena Baker; Martha Hahn; Clara Sheets, Mary Duffy and Edward Heim. A son, Robert, passed away in 1975. She had lived in Toppenish 25 years before moving to Yakima in 1959. Her husband died in 1970 and she in 1976. She was a member of the Toppenish Assembly of God Church and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery. She had two brothers, Emanuel and Dave Bogner. [CFH] -- HEIN Conrad, born in Russia. Information on him is not recorded. His wife Margaret, was born in Russia on November 11, 1855. She was the daughter of Adam Kreiger and Katherine Helser. Margaret died June 21, 1939 at Yakima. She is buried in Tahoma Cemetery. They had lived in the Lower Yakima Valley. [LMFH] -- HEIN Jacob Hein was born in Frank, Russia on August 5, 1883. He was the son of George Hein and Anna Marie Wiese. He married Yette (Henrietta) Bernhardt on February 5, 1904. She was the daughter of Jacob Bernhardt and Katherine Libsack, born in Frank, Russia on January 10, 1885. This couple left Russia in 1907 for the U.S, arriving at the Port of Baltimore, Maryland. Their destination was Tacoma, Wa., where some of their relatives lived who had immigrated earlier. Jacob found work at a wood delivery service. He enjoyed working with horses, and the mode of delivery was by horse drawn wagons. On March 8, 1908 their daughter, Frieda was born, the next child born to them was Gotlieb born on September 15, 1915. The family decided to try their hand at farming, they moved to an area about 30 miles east of Tacoma to Eatonville. The farming experience there did not suit them but stayed for a year or two. A second son was born while at Eatonville, Harold was born in 1916. They moved back to Tacoma, this time they bought property and built a house on it. Again they were not going to make this their permanent home and sold the place. Jacob came to the Yakima Valley in 1919, and with a brother-in- law worked that summer and fall in the Moxee and Terrace Heights area for farmers. He bought a farm located one mile east of Harrah and moved his family to the valley. The previous owners were Hal and Emilie Sheets. This was open land farming. At that time the lateral irrigation ditches were in the process of being put in. Adjacent to their land is one of the large ditches. Jacob and Yette farmed until retirement in 1957 when they bought a house in Yakima. The farm stayed in the Hein family from Jacob to son Harold and then to Harold's son Gaylen Hein, who is presently farming it. Yette died in 1960 from injuries she received in a car accident. Jacob died in 1965. Both are interred in Terrace Heights Memorial Park. They were affiliated with the Lutheran faith. The last church they attended was the Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. [Information from Frieda (Hein) Dawson, May 15, 1987 - By Frieda Brulotte] -- HEINIE John, born on February 11, 1888 in Odessa, Russia. Immigrated to the U.S. in 1916. They settled first in North Dakota. He married Bertha Hochhalter in 1922. The couple farmed in Hettinger County, North Dakota until 1934 when the family moved to Missoula, Montana. They came to Sunnyside, Washington in February 1944 and farmed in the Yakima Valley many years before retirement. Mrs. Heinie died November 16, 1963. John died May 26, 1976. The survivors were five daughters, Mrs. Edna Sanders, Mrs. John (Freda) Nelson, Mrs. Lenora Stahl, Mrs. Bob (Lorraine) Giersdorf, Mrs. William (Shirley) Warmenhouen, three sons, Herbert, Fred and Walter and one sister, Mrs. Minnie Heyne. Erdman Funeral Home in Sunnyside in charge of arrangements. [YHR] -- HEINTZ Adam Heintz was born in Russia. He married Susie Hartman in 1914, she was born in Russia in 1895. They lived at Bowdle, South Dakota. The Heintz families came to the Yakima Valley where they settled in the Prosser area. After her husband died, Susie moved to the city of Prosser and then to Yakima in 1940. She was a member of St. Paul's Cathedral and the Mother Seton Guild. She passed away on December 15, 1974. Her survivors were three sons; George of Glendale, Cal, Edward of Sepuldea, Cal, and Donald of Seattle; five daughters, Sister Vera Heintz of Yankton, S.D., Mrs. Ernest (Pauline) Johnson of Yakima, Mrs. George (Genevieve) Cox of Seattle, Mrs. Roy (Barbara) Maston of Portland, Ore. and Mrs. Gerald (Joy Lynn) Foy of Aberdeen. Three brothers, George Hartman of Yakima, Pete Hartman of Tacoma and Roy Hartman of Nueyo, Cal, one sister, Sister Lorenza Hartman of Good Counsel Covenant in Minnesota. [YHR] -- HEINTZ Anselm, lived at Bowdle, South Dakota. He married Christina Gese on November 9, 1915 at Bowdle, So. Dakota. She was born in Volcofe, Russia on June 29, 1897. Immigration information not known. They moved from South Dakota to the Yakima Valley and the Prosser area. They were members of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Anselm died January 21, 1970. He was survived by his wife and six sons and two daughters. The sons are; Leo, Charles, Tony, Raymond, Joe and John. The daughters were; Marie and Betty. Christina died May 3, 1985. She left besides the children a brother, Joe Gese and a half sister Johanna Kalegraff. Flint Funeral Home in Prosser was in charge of burial arrangements for Christina. [YHR] -- HEINTZ Frank, born at Odessa, Russia in 1901. He came to the U.S. with his parents when he was seven years of age. The family settled at Bowdle, South Dakota. He and Mary Goldade were married in 1924 at Bowdle. They farmed at Bowdle until 1936 when they moved to Prosser, Wa. At Prosser they resumed making their livelihood at farming. Mary died in 1971. Frank then married Barbara Schumacher. They made their home at Grandview, Wa., until retirement. They were lifetime members of the Catholic Church. Frank died on April 24, 1975. He left three sons; Nick, Julius and Jerome. Four daughters survived him; Mrs. Richard Newby, Mrs. Francis Blum, Irene Walgamott and Rosemary Frank, also two sisters survived him, Mrs. Katherine Keuhn and Mrs. Marie Schmidt and a brother, Anton. Smith Funeral Home arranged services. [YHR] -- HEINTZMAN Lena, born January 8, 1888 at Odessa, Russia, to German parents, Carl and Frances (Hoffart) Gese. She came to the U.S. in 1900 to South Dakota. On November 20, 1905 she and Joseph Heintzman of Onaka, South Dakota were married. They farmed there until 1934, then moved to the Yakima Valley. Lena worked at the Del Monte Cannery until her retirement. She then moved to Stayton, Oregon and lived with her daughter, Tillie. Lena had been a member of St. Paul's Cathedral in Yakima. She died September 27, 1984 at the age of 96. Her husband had died in 1948, also a son, Andrew preceded her in death in 1956. Survivors are; son, Joe Heintzman of Yakima and six daughters, Claudis Malson, Johanna Kautzman, Theresa DeLaney, Tillie Kohls, Rose Steed and Pauline Huggins. [LMFH/YHR] -- HEISLER Elizabeth, born in the Crimea area in South Russia in 1885. Her family came to the U.S. in 1907. They settled first in North Dakota at Holliday. They moved to the Yakima Valley in 1937. Her first marriage was to Mr. Krug. With him she had four sons. She was a member of St. Paul's Cathedral in Yakima. She died May 6, 1974. Langevin Mussetter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements and is interred in Calvary Cemetery. Her survivors are: Ignatius Krug, of California; Wendell Krug of Cambria, California; Joseph of Yakima and Dr. Stephen Krug of Livermore, California. She was also survived by one brother, Henry Bosch of Dickinson, N. D. and three stepsons; Joseph Heisler of Esmond, N.D., Bernard and Thomas of Great Falls, Montana. Three stepdaughters, Dorothy Fleck of Great Falls, Mt., Katherine of Harvey, N.D. and Christina Thomas of Pontiac, Mich. [YHR] -- HELZER Jacob H. Helzer, who lived on No. K Street, Toppenish, died September 25, 1965. He was born in Russia January 15, 1878 . He was a farmer. He was survived by a son, Eugene Edward of Pollock Pines, CA. His wife, Minnie, preceded him in death. He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery, Toppenish. [CFH] -- HERMANN Walter S. and Margaret came to the Yakima Valley to Mabton in 1938 from Hardin, Montana. She was born in Russia in 1885. No information on Walter. Margaret's family name was Klundt, date of immigration not known. Margaret lived to the age of 83. She died on October 26, 1968. She was a member of Mabton Church. Her survivors were; three sons, Alvin of Yakima, Kermit of Central Valley, California, Francis of Tacoma. Also five daughters, Mrs. Willa Meachem, of Bremerton, Mrs. Lillian Holweg of Seattle, Mrs. Irene Kierbeiber, of Montana, Mrs. Faye Vinji of Kirkland, Mrs. Viola Johnson of Grandview, one brother, Ed Klundt, North Dakota and a sister Mrs. Sophie Fowler. A son, Norbet born October 2, 1923 in North Dakota, died January 6, 1968. Ball Memorial Chapel in Sunnyside was in charge of funeral arrangements. [YHR] -- HERT Carl, born September 23, 1909 in Alexanderdorf, Russia. With his parents, Conrad and Lydia he came to the U.S. in 1910. They settled first at Ashton, Idaho, then moved on to Montana where Carl was raised and educated. On June 4, 1928 he married Eve Dumler in Hardin, Montana. They farmed there until 1944 when they moved to the Yakima Valley at Harrah, Wa. He worked for the U. & I. Sugar Company in Toppenish until 1954. They moved to Yakima where he operated Carl's Shoe Repair Shop, retiring in 1962. He died February 21, 1983. His wife, Eve died in 1977. His survivors were; three sons and three daughters. Sons were Jim, Bill and Larry of Yakima; daughters, Lillian Mary, Louise and Lydia. He also left a brother, Sam of Billings, Montana. His burial was in the Reservation Community Memorial Park. [YHR] -- HERT Gottlieb born at Alexanderdorf, Russia in 1865. His wife, Mary was born in Russia, April 1, 1867. She was the daughter of Jake Herman and Eva Denhoff. They were married in Russia. They immigrated to Canada in 1892, then moved to the U.S., first to Custer, Montana, then the Yakima Valley in 1919. Farming was their occupation. Their first child was born in Russia. A son, Conrad was born in Alexanderdorf, on April 11, 1890. He was two years old when they left Russia. Conrad married Charlotte who survived him. They left Custer, Montana and moved to the Yakima Valley in 1919. He was a rancher. Conrad died October 23, 1979. He left his wife and four sons, Marvin, Arthur, Jim and Eugene and two daughters, Ruby and Mary. Charles was born at Winnipeg, Ontario in 1892 shortly after they arrived from Russia. He married Pauline Woitt on February 3, 1923. She was the daughter of Jacob Woitt and Margaret Anna Schmidt. Pauline was born in Odessa, Wa. February 1, 1906. The Woitt family had moved to the Yakima Valley in 1918. She and Charles farmed until 1960 when he retired. He was a veteran of World War I, serving in the Army. They were members of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Charles died October 22, 1976. Pauline lives in Yakima at this date. Alexander came to the Valley in 1921. Lived most of the time at Wapato. He worked on the fruit ranches. He died at the age of 70. William, married Lydia Woitt on November 11, 1928. She is the sister of Pauline, daughter of Jake and Anna. She was born May 26, 1910 and died shortly after her marriage on November 8, 1929. They were members of Hope Lutheran Church in Wapato. Lillian, the daughter of Gottlieb and Mary lived at Toppenish, married to Mr. Melcher. Mary died May 31, 1931. Merritt Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Gottlieb died May 1, 1949. They are buried in Tahoma Cemetery. [MFH/YHR] -- HETTICH Christ E. Hettich, son of Christian and Rosina (Weis) Hettich, was born in Odessa, Russia, October 12, 1899. He came with his parents from Russia in 1900 and settled in South Dakota. In 1923 he moved to the Yakima Valley where he married Mary Linker in 1929 at Prosser. Mr. Hettich worked for the U & I Sugar Company for many years. He was a member of the Gem and Mineral Club of Zillah and of the Faith Lutheran Church in Toppenish of which he was a Charter member. Christ and Mary had three children, Frances (Asker), Marjorie (Beckham), and Jerry. He was survived by his children and three brothers, George, William and Edward and two sisters, Bertha Tucker and Tillie Gambucci. He lived in his home at 26 North J Street, Toppenish from 1935 until the time of his death, March 4, 1972. [CFH] -- HETTICH Jacob M. Hettich was born October 2, 1883 in Berkdorf, South Russia. He was the son of Michael Hettick and Katherina Berringis. Mr. Hettich died December 13,1963. He was a member of the Lutheran Church. [MM] -- HILL My husband's parents were from Russia, coming to the Yakima Valley in 1918. Carl's father was John Hill. Mr. Hill had two brothers who died in Siberia. He also had a sister Lydia. Carl's mother was Wilhelmina Rothermal, she was born in Alexandorf, Russia May 9, 1894. They were married in Russia and one son was born there, Alex, who was nine months old when they came over. They immigrated to Halifax, Nova Scotia, April 13, 1915. They went to Lethbridge, Alberta and then to Montana in 1915. A daughter, Frieda, was born at Calgary; Henry was born in Montana; Alvina in Sunnyside in 1918, and Carl in Toppenish. Carl's father was in the Russian Marines. He came over here on a visa not intending to stay, but the war broke out and he couldn't go back. Mr. Hill worked for various farmers in the valley, Mrs. Hill was a midwife and also worked as housewife as needed. She became a Naturalized citizen October 2, 1945 in Yakima. Following the death of Mr. Hill, Mrs. Hill married Carl Weist of Yakima. She was a member of the Toppenish Assembly of God Church and is buried at Elmwood cemetery. She was the daughter of Wilhelm Rothermel and Natalie Dulenov. Mrs. Weist died April 27, 1974. [Information by Clara Hill - By Louise Potter - CFH] -- HINTZ Gottlieb, son of Christoff Hintz and Louisa Nicholaus, born January 31, 1905 in Johannestahl, Bessarabia. Christoff was born December 14, 1864, died April 4, 1924. Louisa was the daughter of John Nicholaus and Katherine Weller, she was born April 2, 1862, died October 6, 1934. John Nicholaus was the son of Jacob Nicholaus and Elizabeth Lenz. The family immigrated to the U.S. in the spring of 1907. They came over on the Wilhelm Kaiser II, settled at Elgin, North Dakota. The family members were; parents Christoff, and Louisa. Children were; Gottlieb, Emilia (Seidler), Jacob, Mary (Sauter) (Sweitz), Gottfried and Juliana. Gottlieb married Hilda Auch in 1932. She was the daughter of Andrew Auch and Fredericka Zimmerman. Before moving to the Yakima Valley they lived for a time at Missoula, Montana. They arrived in the valley in the late 1930s, making their home at Sunnyside and then in the Granger area. The children born to them were; Emanuel, born Sept. 24, 1933, he married Marilyn Fischer February 8, 1959; Mae, born May 8, 1934, married Jim McLain; Irene, born Jan. 24, 1936, married Leslie Johnson December 20, 1959; Florence, born May 3, 1938, died September 22, 1938; Elmer, born October 12, 1939; Lucille, born July 24, 1941; Bernice, born May 19, 1943, married Andrew Brinson January 10, 1950; Susie, born July 16, 1948, married Joe Luther; and Roy, born April 23, 1953. Gottlieb was a laborer, Hilda a housewife. Gottlieb met an untimely death while in Sacramento, California, he was murdered, April 26, 1976. Hilda is still living. [Information from Mrs. Berkes 1988 - By Frieda Brulotte] -- HINZMAN John, born in Russia, September 26, 1965 [1865?]. He was the son of Martin Hinzman. John came to America at about the age of 19. He married Minnie Wahl, daughter of John Wahl and Wilhelmina Cook. She came to the U.S. with her parents when she was four years of age. Her birthdate was October 11, 1871. This indicates their arrival in the U.S. as 1875. They were of the earliest Germans to leave Russia. The villages they came from is not known. Their primary way of earning a living was at farming. Church records of the German Pilgrim Congregational Church as Wapato listed them as members of the church in 1936. John died on November 29, 1937. His wife Minnie died January 15, 1933. She was born October 11, 1871. Merritt Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Both John and Wilhelmina are buried in Tahoma Cemetery, Yakima. [MFH] -- HIRNING Edward Hirning Sr. was born in Russia. He and his wife, Cecilia lived in Greenway, South Dakota. A son, Edward, Jr. was born January 10, 1907. They then moved to Wishek, North Dakota where Edward received his education. They moved to the Yakima Valley in 1922. Edward was employed at Cascade Mill and worked there 30 years. He was a charter member of the Summitview Assembly of God Church of Yakima. When Edward Jr. reached the age of 17 he began work at Cascade Lumber Company, where he worked for 48 years. On August 11, 1940 he was married to Pauline Greenman in Yakima. He died January 5, 1989. Edward Sr.'s wife preceded him in death, he died July 24, 1974. Beside their son, Edward, they also had daughters Irene (Mrs. Donald Stenberg) and Alma (Mrs. Evan Lindgren); several nieces and nephews. Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. [YHR] -- HOCHSTATTER Mrs. Margaretha Hochstatter, who was born May 24, 1887 at Odessa, Russia, died in Yakima May 1, 1990 at the age of 102. When she was 19 she came to the United States and settled in Moses Lake. Following her marriage to Chris Hochstatter, she continued living in the Moses Lake area where they homesteaded a wheat ranch until 1919 when they moved to the Yakima area where they owned and operated a fruit ranch for many years. Mrs. Hochstatter was a charter member of the Stone Church, First Assembly of God. She was survived by five daughters, Margaret Tilbury of Naches, Mary M. Wilder and Linda Dolliver both of Yakima; Frieda Miller of Centralia and Esther Richards of Bellevue. She was preceded in death by her husband, April 1970, also one daughter, Sarah Hochstatter in 1982 and two sons, Chris Hochstatter in 1926 and Ted Hochstatter in 1929. Interment was at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. [YHR] -- HOFF Anna (Mrs.) born in Russia in 1888. Her family name was Birkle. She came to the U.S. in 1924, arriving in the Yakima area in 1930. She was a member of the Assembly of God Church. The information on her is the obituary about her death. She died June 2, 1971. Her survivors were a son, Alex of Yakima, two daughters, Mrs. Arna Allen of Yakima and Mrs. Molly Rumsey of Renton. Also a brother, Daniel Birkle of Tacoma. Shaw & Sons in charge of burial. [YHR] -- HOFF George, was born in Russia in 1904. Came to the U.S. with his parents when a small child. The family went first to Ritzville, Washington and later moved to Portland, Ore. From Portland they moved to the Yakima Valley. On September 24, 1925 he married Mollie Maling, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. George Maling. They lived in Portland for 5 years then returned to the Yakima Valley. They lived in Granger for a year before moving to a farm in the Outlook-Sunnyside area where he farmed until retirement in 1969. His wife Mollie died April 20, 1974. They were early members of the Lutheran Church. George died September 21, 1984. Survivors are, three daughters, Mrs. Noah (Jean) Bates, Mrs. Louise (Dorothy) Krebs Jr., both of Sunnyside and Mrs. Ray (Rose) Dalton of Grand Coulee and a brother, Alex of Portland, Oregon. George was preceded in death by two brothers, Jake and Henry Hoff. Smith Funeral Home in Sunnyside in charge of burial arrangements. [YHR] -- HOFF Jacob, born March 28, 1882 in Russia. Died July 17, 1962. Interred in Terrace Heights Cemetery. [YVGS] -- HOFF Johann George, born October 23, 1872 in Russia. He was the son of Johann George Hoff and Elizabeth Becker. His wife was Maria K. He died September 27, 1937. Interred in the Old Sunnyside Cemetery. [YVGS/MM] -- HOFFARTH Frank, born in Russia in 1892. His parents immigrated to the U.S. when Frank was only one year old. They moved to North Dakota. He was married in North Dakota to Margaret. They farmed there until 1923 when they moved to the Yakima Valley. He worked at the Hanford Project, and later as a sheet metal worker for Lentz Hardware Co. in Yakima. He was a member of the Sheetworkers Union Local #242. His survivors include his wife, two sons, Anton and Simon, two daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Harmer and Mrs. Catherine Barker, a step- daughter, Mrs. Betty Burton of Yakima. Also, a step-son, Virgil Russell of Seattle, a brother and five sisters. Shaw & Sons in charge of funeral arrangements. [YHR] -- HOFFER Jacob, born in Odessa, Russia on December 24, 1899. He came to the U.S. as an infant, first to South Dakota. Early history of this family is not known. He came to the Yakima Valley in 1943. He worked for Young's Lumber Company for a number of years. He had also be an instructor with the C.C.C. His hobby was wood carving. He died September 6, 1984. Survivors include two sons, Sam and Robert both of Yakima. A daughter, Rebecca Ruth Kunnanz of Burien, Washington. Shaw and Sons in charge of funeral arrangements. [YHR] -- HOFFERBER My grandmother, Dorothy Elizabeth (Dortliz) "Lis" to her friends and family, was from Hussenbach, Russia. She was born there October 5, 1880, her parents were Wilhelm Kreizer and Anna Elizabeth Adolph. When she was a young woman, she went to Saratov where she worked in a large department store as a cook. She said the store was about the size of a block and they sold just about everything there was to sell. Apparently they cooked for the employees as she said they would cook all morning and the men would eat it all in about ten minutes. Saratov was where she met George Hofferber, whom she would later marry. He was a handsome shoe cobbler from the village of Frank. He traveled many miles, going from home to home, and village to village making shoes, going as far north as Yulan. George was the son of Conrad and Anna Elizabeth (Bostron) Hofferber. His mother, Anna, was the daughter of George Bastron and Marie Peiff. George and Elizabeth were married by Rev. Michael Somelt in the Lutheran Church in Frank in November of 1989. My great-grandfather, Conrad, raised his brother, Jacob, (Gross Hofferber) as their parents had died, and in 1900 Jacob went to America, going to Lincoln, Nebraska. He obtained passage for Conrad and his family and in 1902 the family left Russia going by train to Libau, Latvia, then to Hull, England, leaving from the Port at Liverpool, England and arriving at Quebec City, Canada, May 1O, 1902. From Quebec they immediately went by train to Detroit and then to Sebewaing, Michigan where they worked on a beet contract for two seasons. George and Elizabeth had an infant son, Adolph, who died of measles and chicken-pox shortly after their arrival. Their second child, Vera, was born at Burtex, Sebewaing, Michigan, October 30, 1902. My grandparents lived for many years at Greeley, Colorado working for sugar beet farmers and farming for themselves. I remember my mother, Vera, telling about living at Greeley and her weekly chore of sweeping the yard each Saturday with a broom made of brush. The German farm families would come to church each Sunday with their horses and wagon and would leave them at the Hofferber's while in church. She also told of Wednesday night prayer meetings held in their home and how the children would be put to bed upstairs and she would listen to the singing, no musical instruments, just beautiful harmony. In 1920 they moved to Mitchell, Nebraska where they worked beets and finally my grandfather realized his dream of having his own shoe shop. They later moved to Walla Walla where my grandfather again worked at a shoe shop. After he passed away, my grandmother lived with her various children in Yakima. My mother, Vera, and my dad, Bill Potter, and family came to Toppenish in 1938 working for Golding Farms and then to Moxee working for Mr. Tanasse in the hope. They returned to Idaho for a few years, moving to Toppenish where they lived for a short time at Germantown before purchasing a home in Toppenish. Dad was a beekeeper and also worked for the Toppenish School District as a bus driver and truant officer. Dad died in 1972 and mother moved to Golden Villa on Washington Avenue in Yakima. Her sisters and brothers decided they wanted to live near each other when they retired and at one time six of her family lived at Golden Villa, Bertha Bergquist, Tillie Allen, Helen Shirley, Lydia Cornelison, Alvina Hayworth, and Ed Hofferber. Another brother, Amos, lives in Yakima, also. A brother, Fred, lived at Broadmore Mobile Park and passed away in 1980. Lydia passed away in 1985 and Helen passed away at Mitchell, Nebraska in 1988, she and her husband having moved there to be near their family. Bertha and her husband moved to Chula Vista, California to be near her son, and Ed and his wife moved to Home Valley. The family still cooks the good German food whenever they get together, chicken noodle soup, river kuchen, snitz soup, kraut bierocks, glace, etc. My grandmother died in Yakima in 1976 at the age of 96. She never saw any of her family after leaving Russia, however she heard that one of her sisters lived in Canada and spent many years hoping she could locate her to no avail, two of her sisters married Roderberger brothers and another married a Mehling. [By Ted Potter] -- HOFFERBER Jacob Hofferber was born in Russia about 1877, probably at Frank. He and his wife, Katherine Margaret Witherspoon, had two sons who were born there, Jacob, born December 9, 1905, and Conrad, born August 24, 1910. They immigrated to Canada in 1913 where Ben was born. They then came to the United States where the following children were born: Emma (Mattox); Martha (Stepson); Emil; Johanna (Kukes); and Ray. Mrs. Hofferber was 89 years of age when she died November 16, 1968. She had lived 33 years in the Ahtuanum area prior to moving to Auburn. After the death of Mr. Hofferber, she married a Mr. Koch. She was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Yakima. [YHR] -- HOFFERBER Jacob Hofferber, was born December 9, 1905 in Russia. He was the son of Jacob and Katherine (Witherspoon) Hofferber. At the age of 7, he immigrated with his parents to Canada and then to Washington state where they settled in the Wapato area. Jake worked as a farm laborer for various farmers in the area, Henry Thalheimer, Bert Colby, Harry Kwak, etc., and for many years was employed at the Wapato Evaporator, retiring in 1974. He married Amelia Berg in Wapato April 3, 1926. She was born in Ganlga, Russia in 1904. At the time of her death, she had lived in the Yakima Valley for 50 years. Mr. & Mrs. Hofferber had two daughters, Lois Hawk and Dorothy Schaefer and a son, James. A son, Robert Edward, was born in 1927 at Wapato and died in 1934. Mrs. Hofferber died October 15, 1969. She was survived by four brothers, Alex, Emanuel, Henry and Albert Berg and three sisters, Mrs. Leonard Taylor, Mrs. Lydia Whitaker and Mrs. Gottfried Keil as well as her husband and children. On February 13, 1970, Mr. Hofferber married Marie Ecalbarger Carrier in Wapato. He was a member of the Hope Lutheran Church in Wapato and is buried in Reservation Community Memorial Park west of Wapato. His obituary states that he was an avid fisherman. Mr. Hofferber was survived by his wife, Marie; children, James, Dorothy and Lois; three brothers, Ray of Montana, Connie of Renton and Emil of Auburn; three sisters, Johana Kukes of Ellensburg, Martha Stenson of Lacey, and Emma Mattox of Lancaster. He was 80 years old at the time of his death. [Information by Lois Hofferber Hawk - By Louise Potter - YHR] -- HOFFMAN John Alexander Hoffman, 1877- 1945. Valentin Hoffman arrived in Balzer, Russia March 28, 1766, one of 81 settlers who left Germany at the invitation of Catherine II. He was from Kurpfalz. They were given permission to settle wherever they wished, were provided with food rations and free transportation as well as many other offerings to attract them. Although greatly disillusioned by the primitive conditions on the Steppes, the Germans prospered. Balzer became a commercial center of the Volga Colonies. The allotted farmland would not support the inhabitants so it was necessary to resort to business and commerce. There were windmills to grind flour, six oil mills were constructed, four brickyards, eleven textile mills, seven dye works and thirty tanneries. The Hoffmanns were among the thousands who did hand looming in their homes, and the better known fabric called "Sarpinka" was sold to the Rothschilds of France. The Germans were content as long as the promises of the Manifesto were kept, however, after a hundred years, reactionary Tsars came to power and passed a series of laws withdrawing many of the provisions, including the right to self-government and maintaining the German language and culture. The final blow came in 1871 when military training became compulsory. Many families sent their sons to America to find work and prepare for the rest of the family to emigrate, as well as avoid the Russian Army draft. The Passenger list of the SS Fulda, which sailed from Bremen, Germany, arriving in New York City (Castle Garden) April 19, 1887, listed the following: Heinrich Hoffmann 55, and wife Barbara Katharina (Rota) 55 Johannes Hoffman 32, and wife Charlotte (Kaiser) 29 Johannes 9; Amalie 7; Heinrich 4; Catharina Charlotte 18 months Jacob Hoffmann 16, youngest son of Heinrich and Barbara Hoffmann Johannes, age 9, listed here took as his name John Alexander Hoffman when he became a citizen of the United States in Spokane, Washington April 17, 1903. The families traveled to Friend, Nebraska where Charlotte had cousins by the name of Scheidt who had come to America about 1876. The next year they moved to Lincoln where the men worked for the Burlington Railroad. Hearing of the splendid opportunities in the Northwest, they arrived March 21, 1889 in Walla Walla, Washington Territory. Johannes, Sr. worked for a carpenter and later built several houses there. The family joined the German Methodist Church at this time. In October of 1894, the family moved to Spokane Falls where he did team work. John, now 17 years of age, worked in the cigar factory at $3 a week. In March 1895, Johannes, Sr. and son, John, went to Canada in quest of free government land, finding a suitable homestead due east of Wetaskiwin, Alberta, where he built a log house. One acre was planted to potatoes and four acres to flax. The flax failed to head, and the potato crop was stolen by the half-breed Indians. The two returned to the family in Spokane. Johannes worked with building contractors while John again worked in the cigar factory. The summer of 1897 he worked as a harvester in Ritzville. That fall he went to Warrenton, Missouri where he entered Central Wesleyan College to prepare for the ministry, but the time had not yet come to enter the active full time pastorate. John graduated as a bookkeeper from Spokane Business College and in 1901 began working for the Spokane Post Office. That same fall, Clara Helen Henneman, of Milwaukie, Oregon, entered nurses training at the Deaconess Hospital in Spokane. Her German-born parents had come to America in 1870. John and Clara both attended the German Methodist Church and were married September 6, 1903 in her parent's home in Milwaukie. From there they traveled to central Oregon to live on a homestead in Metolius where John was to serve as Postmaster and run a confectionery store. In the spring of 1914, John sold his stock and became a member of the Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, serving in English speaking congregations in eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle. In June 1935 he was assigned to the Selah Methodist Episcopal Church, where he served effectively the next four years, when he was transferred to Marvin Memorial Church, Walla Walla in June of 1939. Eight children were born to John and Clara: Frederick Lawrence, 1904-1916; Karl Emil, 1906-1983; Charlotte Katherine, 1907; Helen Elizabeth, 1909; Ruth Mildred, 1911-1967; Priscilla Frances, 1915; Clara Esther, 1917; and Lois Jane, 1920. Of the children, only Priscilla, Clara and Lois lived with the family during their residency in Selah, the others pursuing careers elsewhere. John retired from the active ministry in 1945 and he and Clara returned to central Oregon in April of that year. He passed away from cancer June 23, 1945 at Bend, Oregon. Clara continued to live in Metolius until 1966 when arthritis made it impossible for her to maintain her home and she went to live in The Kenney Presbyterian Home in Seattle, to be near her daughter, Clara. She passed away September 8, 1971, just 15 days after breaking her hip. When the Lord called her home she was in her 91st year and ready to make that journey. She and John could both say as the Apostle Paul, "For I have learned, in whatever state I am, therein to be content." Phil. 4:11 [by Clara (Hoffman) Turner Balzer] Pastor Hoffman's daughter submitted the following article on Balzer from records her father had kept. Heinrich Hoffmann, the eldest son of Friedrich, was born in Balzer August 13, 1831 and died in Walla Walla, WA April 24, 1905. In Russia he farmed a tract of 45 acres. In the morning the men would go out into the fields to work the large agricultural areas, and return to their homes in Balzer each night. The youngest son, Jacob John, was the family errand boy, carrying lunches and messages to the workers. Harvest time and threshing usually lasted from three to four weeks. The beautiful moonlight and cool of the evening added hours to the day's toil. With another year of work completed on the farms it was then the families returned to their looms. The whole colony of Balzer, 20,000 people, worshipped in one large beautiful church, with a Reformed pastor trained in the Missionhouse in Basel, Switzerland, a parochial school with several teachers. The Hoffmann house was north, opposite the church, and Heinrich and his father were church sextons for 45 years. Jacob John wrote that it was his happy privilege to be the bell-ringer of the three huge bells each Sunday morning, for funerals and other special occasions. The bells were an alloy of copper and tin, called "bell metal". Old Herr Bengel, a violinist, took his instrument to Saratov and tuned the bells before they were purchased. The ringing bells produced a very melodious harmony. Last to serve the parish was Pastor Meyer from Doenhof, from 1923 until 1931, when he was arrested by the secret police never to be heard from again. On Christmas day in 1935, the last church service was conducted by Elder Koehler. In March 1936, the tower was torn down, the bells removed, the altar and pulpit thrown away and the Holy Place was disgraced. The church building was then used as a warehouse, but eventually it was demolished. Beside worship services held in the Balzer Church, there were Sunday afternoon Bible studies held in homes. These were called Die Stunde. The meetings lasted an hour, hence the movement is known in church history as "The Stundists". One such meeting was held weekly in the Heinrich Hoffmann home and thus might have played a part in Jacob John and John Alexander entering the ministry in the new world. In August 1938, a reunion was held in Lincoln, Nebraska of Germans who had come to America from Balzer, Russia, it was The Reverend Doctor Jacob John Hoffmann who was the main speaker. Also attending were prosperous men of affairs, civic leaders, merchants, teachers, lawyers, agriculturists - all loyal Americans. [Our thanks to Mrs. Turner for sharing this article with us.] -- HORST Fred (Friederich), born in Kolb, Russia on November 20, 1873. He and Mollie Cook were married in Russia in 1906. She was born in 1884. While living in Russia their son, Fred, was born in 1898. They came to the U.S. in 1902. He was a farmer. They had settled in Nebraska. Five years later they moved to Eastern Washington and in 1922 they came to the Yakima Valley. They both lived to quite an old age. Mollie died March 15, 1963, Fred on February 5, 1967. Their survivors were one son, Fred, and four daughters, Mrs. Freda Eisenbeis, Mrs. Irene Burke, Mrs. Sadie Bool, and Mrs. Pauline Dugger. They were members of Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. Both are interred in the Tahoma Cemetery. Keith and Keith Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. [GLC/YHR] -- HORST Henry, born in Russia in 1885. He came to the U.S. at the age of 17, in 1902, first living at Lincoln, Nebraska. He married Mary Catherine Krening in Lincoln. She was born March 23, 1889. They moved to Tacoma where Henry worked for the Milwaukee Railroad. He later homesteaded in Montana. They also moved to Wyoming for a time before coming to the Yakima Valley in 1924, where he made their living by farming. Mary Catherine died February 20, 1964, and is interred in Terrace Heights Memorial Park. Henry lived to the age of 88. He spent some time in Summitview Manor Nursing Home. They were members of Grace Lutheran Church. He died November 4, 1973. Survivors include two sons, Harry of Tacoma, Bill of Yakima. Three daughters, Mrs. Linda Slate, Garden Grove, California; Mrs. Pauline Wright and Miss Alvine Irene Horst both of Yakima. Keith & Keith Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. [YHR] -- IBACH John and Mary were both born at Baden, Russia, which is located near Odessa, Russia on the Black Sea. John was born on December 16, 1885. He was the son of Francis Xavier Ibach and Katherine. Mary was born August 14, 1887. The daughter of Joseph Ibach and Helen Klein. Mary Ibach's family came to the U.S. in 1899. They came on the ship Kaiser Wilhelm. Settled at Balta, North Dakota. Her father spent four years in the Russian Army during the war with Turkey. Her grandfather had fought in the Russo Japanese War. The Ibach's homesteaded on land near Balta, N.D. It was there that Mary met John, a cousin of hers and married. They farmed at Balta and all of their children were born there. They moved to Yakima in 1937 with their married daughter, Ann, and the youngest son Antone. The children of John and Mary were; Ann, born May 26, 1908, she married Bernard Schatz; Frank, born December 20, 1911; Joseph, born May 6, 1913, married Frances Kiefel, born at Aberdeen, South Dakota; Michael, born April 16, 1915, he is a priest serving St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Sunnyside; John, born December 10, 1916; Antone, born August 2, 1918, married Frances Morrell, (2) Daphne Winder. They are a family of the Catholic faith, and also where music played an important part in their lives. John preceded Mary in death. He died February 27, 1969 and is buried in the Calvary Cemetery, Yakima. Mary lived in her own apartment to the age of 98. She then was living in the Good Samaritan nursing home. At the age of 100 a special birthday party was held for her with day-time activities and a dance that evening. Mary lived to the age of 101. She died on December 3, 1988. [Information from her daughter, Ann, and the YHR article - By Frieda Brulotte] -- JENNINGS Elizabeth (Schreiner) Rehm Jennings was born February 16, 1904 at Kautz, Russia and moved with her parents at a very early age to the United States and became a citizen thereafter. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church being a former member of the Toppenish Faith Lutheran Church. She was married to Alex Rehm and later to Howard Jennings. Mrs. Jennings was a homemaker with many artistic talents. She was a beautiful seamstress, enjoying crocheting, her plants and flower garden. She took special interest in roses and beautiful award winning iris bulbs. She stated many times that she felt close to God in her flower garden watching the life of the plant unfold and end. She also served on the election board for many years. Mrs. Jennings died May 29, 1988 at Portland. She was survived by a daughter Barbara Joyce Clausing and a son, Harry Rehm, also a sister, Mollie Wright. She was the daughter of Henry and Katherine E. (Reil) Schreiner. [TR] -- JESKE Daniel Jeske and his wife, Katherina (Bohnet), arrived in the Yakima Valley about 1935. Mr. Jeske was born in Kolm, Russia in 1864, his wife was born in Russia in 1868. Mr. Jeske's parents were Andrew and Christina (Schelski) Jeske. Mrs. Jeske's father was John Bohnet, her mother was a Straup. Mr. Jeske was a farmer. They were members of the Church of God, Seventh Day and are buried at Sunnyside. They had nine children; Mrs. Margaret Bergurson; Mrs. Christina Pomerinke; Mrs. Katie Ward; Mrs. Paulina Pomerinke; Mrs. Emily Johnson; Mrs. Lydia Gross; Edward Jeske; Emanuel Jeske and John Jeske. Mr. Jeske passed away in 1951 and Mrs. Jeske in 1953. Mrs. Jeske was also survived by two brothers; Chris of Belle City, CA and Reinhold and a sister, Mrs. Magdelina Reich. [CFH] -- JEWELL Pauline Jewell, who was the daughter of George Koch and Anna Elizabeth Fellinger, was born June 17, 1905 in Russia. She died September 22, 1967 having lived in the valley 49 years. Mrs. Jewell was a member of the Grace Brethren Church, Rev. Edmond J. Bauer had the service. Mrs. Jewell was survived by her husband, Archie, and four children: Alfred, of Watsonville, CA; James, Hollister, CA; Mae Martin, Vancouver and Birdie Wood, Clarkston, WA. She was also survived by two brothers; Abraham Cook (Koch), San Louis Obisbo, CA and George Cook, Jr. (Koch), Los Gatos, CA, and a sister, Mary Hood, Mehama, Oregon. [CFH] -- JOACHIM Gottlieb, born September 30, 1884. Where he was born is not known. He married Matilda Hummel, she was born May 5, 1889 in South Russia, the daughter of John and Dorothea Hummel. The Hummel family came to the U.S. when Matilda was five years of age. They settled and homesteaded near Ashley, N.D. On April 6, 1909 she and Gottlieb Joachim were married. They farmed near Eureka, S.D. In 1946 the family moved to Wiley City located near Yakima, Wa. Mr. Joachim died April 4, 1958. Matilda continued to live in Wiley City until her health failed. In March 1977 she moved to the Crescent Nursing Home. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. She was 91 years of age when she died on November 6, 1980. Her survivors were; three sons, Lenhardt of Bowdle, South Dakota, Wilbert, of South San Francisco, Ca. and Albert of Livermore, Ca. Twelve daughters; Hilda Haidle, of Staples, Minnesota. Luella Sayler of Aberdeen, S.D. Ruth Huff of Eureka, S.D. Olive Settles of Tracy, Ca. Frieda Steffen of Lodi, Ca. Verna Presley of Torrance, Ca. Lavana Roberts of Carson, Ca. Berdina Steffen of Carson, Ca. Bernice Beall of Lynwood, Ca. Ramona Konop of Toledo, Or. Darlene Rasmussen of Yakima, Wa. Irma West of Union Gap, Wa. She left 53 grandchildren, 69 great-grandchildren and 69 great-great- grandchildren. She is interred in Terrace Heights Memorial Park, Keith and Keith Funeral Home had charge of the arrangements. [YHR] -- JOCHIM Barbara, born at Odessa, Russia on November 1, 1898. She was the daughter of Phillip Zacher and Catherine Wilhelm. The Zacher's immigrated to the U.S. in 1910 and settled at Brisbane, North Dakota. Barbara married John Jochim on November 24, 1915. Not until 1935 did they move to the Yakima Valley. They were members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. John preceded her in death, he died October 3, 1957. She lived 28 years after his death. She enjoyed her family and working in her flower garden. At the age of 87 she died, December 2, 1985. Her survivors included five sons, Phil, Jack, Joseph, Henry and Ralph. A daughter, Katherine Blehm of Yakima, two sisters, Theresa Goode and Johanna Feist both of Yakima. Her burial was at the Calvary Cemetery. [LMF] -- JOCHIM My father, John (Johann) Jochim, was born on a farm near the colony Neikantl in Odessa, Russia, in 1888. His father was Bernard Jochim and his mother was Eleanor Schneider, his grandfather was Valentine Jochim. His mother was born at Baden, Russia. His father died and his mother married a man with a younger son which put him in a classification where he would have to go into the Russian Army. As he had no taste for Army life, he decided to secure an agent and leave Russia, this he did October 1, 1910 and October 3rd, he left Odessa. His destination was North Dakota. He was 22 years old. Enroute, he acquired a companion who was from Strossburg, R. They attempted to cross at the border stations of Swanitz on the Poland side/Granitz on the German side however that was out of the question as several refugees had been caught there. The agent then secured false passports for them, dad's papers were made out in the name of John Rice. They then boarded the train and made a safe crossing at Sasnovitch, Poland/(M) Neslovitz, Germany, October 9, 1910. Dad's sister, Johanna, and her husband, John Kletzel, had a homestead at Brisbane, North Dakota, and that is where he went. He worked for them for a time and then homesteaded a place of his own. Here he met and married mother, Barbara Zacher, who also came from Odessa. The first home he built was of sod, then a frame house. Later dad moved the family to Selfridge, ND where he farmed and operated a dairy farm, delivering milk, butter and eggs to the townspeople. During the depression in 1929, dad went broke, he did odd jobs here and there and about 1930 moved the family to Belle Fourche, SD. In 1934, dad brought the family to Yakima, to the Brownstown area where they worked in the beets, later moving into Yakima, eventually working for Boise Cascade. My mother, Barbara (Bobbie) Zacher, was born in Odessa in 1898 and was nine years old when her family emigrated. Her family settled in North Dakota also. Her father was Phillip Zacher and her mother was Catherine Kuntz. The date of dad's immigration was October 11, 1910; the name of the ship was Graf Waldersee; the port of immigration was Philadelphia; and he was naturalized at Carson, North Dakota July 16, 1918. Six children were born to my parents: Bernard; Phillip; Joseph; Henry; Ralph; and myself, Katherine (Blehm). My folks were members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. [Information from Katherine (Jochim) Blehm - By Louise Potter] -- JUNKER Peter, born in Russia in 1869. He came to the U.S. before 1900. The 1910 Yakima County Census lists this family: Wife, Aggie, born in Russia in 1873. Max, age 15, born in Canada. May, age 12, born in Canada. Alphina, age 10, born in Canada. Regina, age 7, born in Canada. Peter was naturalized in 1907. [1910 Yakima County Census] -- KAISER George J., born in Russia on May 18, 1888. His family immigrated to the U.S. when he was a youngster. He was the son of John Kaiser and Margaret Steer. They were both from Russia. George married Elsie Ruth Mailing on October 14, 1922 in Hope Lutheran Church in Wapato. She lived in Sunnyside, Wa., Both of these families were early settlers in the Yakima Valley. George died December 27, 1947. He is buried in the Old Sunnyside Cemetery. [YVGS] -- KANGLE Louise, born in Siberia, Russia on July 13, 1901. Her parents were George Kangle and Katherine Kolb. They came to the U.S. in 1906 and settled in Nebraska. On March 21, 1924 she married David L. Martin at Scottsbluff, Ne. The Martin family came to Yakima in 1931, later they moved to Grandview and lived there for twenty years. The final move was to Sunnyside, Wa., Mrs. Martin was a housewife and a member of the Lutheran Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, David; a daughter, Shirley; two brothers; Henry and George, and a sister, Marie Gowan. Survivors are two daughters, Betty Larson and Helen Kimbrell, two sons, Gordon and Norman. Louise died on December 20, 1987. [YHR] -- KANKELBERG Carl, born in Russia in 1883. Immigrated to the U.S. in 1914. He was about 31 years of age. It is most likely that he was married before he came to the U.S. He was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. The records show he came to the Yakima Valley in 1937, and worked as a laborer in the fruit orchards. Mr. Kankelberg died in 1965. He left his wife Mary, a daughter and one son. Keith & Keith in charge of arrangements. Burial at West Hills Memorial Park. [GLC] -- KANZLER George, born in Kolb, Russia on May, 5, 1892. The immigration history of this family is not known. He married Mary Bechtholt, daughter of Phillip Bechtholt and Elizabeth (Eve) Strenburg. Mary was born in Kolb, Russia on April 3, 1900. They made their living by farming. They settled in the Yakima Valley where they farmed in the Harrah and Wapato area. George served in the U.S. Army during WWI. He belonged to the Harrah American Legion Post #223. George and Mary were members of Hope Lutheran Church in Wapato. He preceded Mary in death by a few months. He died April 29, 1957 and she on November 17, 1957. Their survivors were two sons and two daughters. Both buried in the Reservation Community Memorial Park. [MFH] -- KAUTZMAN Kasper, was born in Steinfeld, Russia in 1899. He settled first at Mandan, North Dakota, coming to Yakima in 1919. In 1928 he moved to British Columbia, Canada and returned to Yakima in 1937. He was a shoe repairman by trade and worked for Al Goode Shoe Repair until retirement in 1966. They were members of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. He died February 19, 1970. Survivors are his wife, Katherine nee Brown, born in Bismark, N.D., also five sons, Kenneth, Roy, Timothy, Anton and Frederick, and four daughters, Aurdina (Cyr), Carolyn, Cecelia, Mary Lou (Rohlman). He was also survived by seven brothers, Harry, Michael of Seattle, Peter, Frank, Leo, Ralph and Emanuel all of Yakima, and five sisters, Mrs. Catherine Knobel, Mrs. Magdalen Prior, Mrs. Mary Bisconer, Miss Rose Kautzman all of Yakima and Mrs. Barbara Lawrence of Seattle. [LMFH/YHR] -- KAUTZMAN Michael K born 1870, died Aug. 18, 1961. Magdalina Mary, born 1871 died July 15, 1941. Buried at Calvary Cemetery. Michael could be the brother of Kasper and Peter. [YVGS] -- KAUTZMAN Peter, born in Russia in 1897. Came to the U.S. at age two with his family. Settled in North Dakota. He was a brother to Kasper. In North Dakota he married Emma Mosbrucker in 1931 and moved to the Yakima Valley that same year. He worked as a custodian with Yakima School District until retirement in 1962. They were members of St. Paul Cathedral in Yakima. He died December 15, 1976. He was survived by his wife and three sons, John, Kasper and Clarence. Also one daughter, Mrs. John (Barbara) DeBord. Six brothers and five sisters also survived him. [LMFH/YHR] -- KEHL Christof, born in 1896 in south Russia. The son of Gabriel Kehl and Regina Adams. He came to the U.S. with his parents in 1912 to North Dakota, and on to the Yakima Valley on May 21, 1920. He married Katherine Kehl, daughter of Alexander Kehl and Regina Boyer. She was born in Russia in 1901. Her family came to the U.S. in 1912 and to the Yakima Valley in 1918. They were members of the Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. They moved to Bellingham, Wa., in 1947 and returned to Yakima in 1961. Christof died in May 1962, Katherine on March 2, 1978. The survivors were two sons, Ted and Ed, two daughters, Mrs. Kenneth (Rosie) Bales and Mrs. Melbert (Alice) Vetter, one brother, Alex, and three sisters. [YHR] -- KEHL Christ, son of Alexander Kehl and Regina Boyer, born in Russia in 1898. Came to the U.S. with his parents, brothers, and sister in 1912 and to the Yakima Valley in 1919 from North Dakota. He was a rancher and when he retired he moved to Mossyrock, Wa. He was a member of IOOF Lodge 22, Rebekiah Lodge of Onalaska, a Yakima County and City Credit Union Member. He died October 19, 1974 and left his wife Lydia, three daughters, Mrs. Maxine Hurst of Vancouver, Mrs. Mildred Connell (born July 9, 1923), Mrs. Frances O. Sweesy (born Dec. 31, 1925). He was also survived by four sisters, Mrs. Katherine Kehl, Mrs. Charlotte Dalloff and, Mrs. Caroline Bachman, all of Yakima and Mrs. Ida McCreery of Los Angeles, two brothers, Michael of Wapato and Alex of Yakima. He was preceded in death by a son Allen Kehl in 1969. Shaw and Sons Funeral Home had charge of arrangements. Mr. Kehl is buried at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. [YHR] -- KEHL Mike, brother to Katherine who was married to Christof, was born August 18, 1904 in southern Russia to Alexander Kehl and Regina Boyer. The family immigrated to the U.S. in 1912. They settled in Kansas before coming to Toppenish in 1918. Mike married Alice Ellen Wissner of Tieton in 1934. They farmed and were orchardists in the Wapato area. Mike was an avid hunter. He died in October 1977. He was survived by his wife Alice Ellen, a son Charles and four daughters, Mrs. Robert (Patricia) Storkel, Mrs. Melvin (Sonia) Preedy, Mrs. Jim (Jeanne) Swan, and Mrs. Ron (Marena) Diamond, a brother Alex Jr., four sisters, Charlotte, Carolyn, Katie, and Ida. [LMFH/YHR] -- KEHRER Andrew, born January 16, 1896 in Benkendorf, Russia. The son of Matthias Kehrer and Magdalena Schaal. He came to the U.S. in 1903 at age 7. The family came to the state of Washington and settled in the Quincy area, where his father took advantage of free railroad land, he later came to Wapato. He and Dena Reiman were married December 4, 1921 in Yakima. He held many jobs, but the last 25 years of employment were at May Nursery Co. where he worked as a nursery attendant. His wife Dena, was born October 8, 1903 in Odessa, Wa. to Edward and Ottilie Reiman. She and her family moved to Wapato in 1919. They moved to Yakima in 1926. They were members of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Dena died March 20, 1982. Andrew's hobbies included rock collecting, jewelry making and gardening. He died at age 90 on September 30, 1986. Survivors were Mrs. Ron (Dorothy Mae) Jenkins, Mrs. Douglas (Joyce Elaine) Roether, and Mrs. Sam (Dorene) Church also a brother, Paul Kehrer of Quilcene. Four sisters and three brothers preceded him in death. Keith & Keith Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Burial in Terrace Heights Memorial Park. [YHR] -- KEHRER Fred, born in Benkendorf, Russia. He was the brother of Andrew, son of Matthias Kehrer and Magdelana Schall. He was born in 1903, and was an infant when they came to the United States. He had lived in the Wapato area since 1912. He was a retired farmer. Fred died on March 30, 1976. Merritt Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Survivors included his two sisters, Mrs. John Gans of Wapato, Mrs. Mary Garbecht of Chicago, and three brothers, Andrew of Yakima, Paul of Quilcene and Albert of Royal City. [YHR] -- KELLER Vincent/Vencen, was born in 1854 in Southern Russia in the Odessa area. He was the son of Lambert Keller and Petranella Kirkhold. The family immigrated to the U.S. in 1887 and settled at Devil's Lake, North Dakota. They also lived for a time in South Dakota. Vincent was married in Russia to Katherine Meter, daughter of John Meter. She was born in 1856 in the same region as Vincent. Born to them while in Russia was their daughter Nellie, born February 2, 1883. She was four years old when they came to America. Other children born to them were, Lambert, born at Hague, South Dakota on October 12, 1891. A daughter, Rose was born in 1894 in South Dakota. The following were born in North Dakota: Evelyn, in 1896, Margaret, in 1900, Carrie and Joseph. Nellie married Frank Bachmeier, he was born in Russia on July 13, 1875. They were married prior to moving to the Yakima Valley in 1907. They farmed land on the Yakima Indian Reservation. Frank died February 9, 1940. Nellie lived to the age of 96. She died December 4, 1978 in Yakima. Lambert came with the family to Yakima. He died in January 1969 at age 77. Four sisters were his survivors. Rose married Gabriel Lorenz. Born in Russia in 1894, the son of John Lorenz and Phillipina Walters. They were married July 12, 1919 at Yakima. Evelyn married Chester Dilley, born in Oregon in 1896. He was the son of C.M. Dilley and Alice Neuman. They married on November 6, 1918 in Yakima. A second marriage was to Mr. Holder. Margaret married John Houck, born in Russia in 1896. He was the son of George Houck and Kate Lautner. They were married January 25, 1919. Carrie married Mr. England. Joseph, the youngest son, we have no information. Katherine died on August 8, 1917. Vincent remarried (no information on her). He contracted a third marriage at age 64. On February 11, 1918, he married Katie Eberts. At age 67, her second marriage. She was born in Russia to Ignatius Dorschen and Margaret Dennis. Vincent died in their home on the Old Town Road, (now Union Gap) on April 17, 1924. He had resided on this farm for 10 years. Survivors were his wife, five daughters and two sons. Also two brothers, Balzer Keller and Adam Keller. They were members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Katie died February 10, 1927. Shaw and Sons in charge of arrangements. [YVGS/YHR] -- KIESER Henry Kieser was born May 14, 1880 at Warrenburg, Russia, the son of Henry (Heinrich) Kieser. His wife, Mary Kristine, was born in Russia, July 6, 1885. She was the daughter of Conrad Icener. Mr. Kieser had been in the Russian Army. In 1919, the family moved to the Yakima Valley where Mr. Kieser was a laborer. Mr. & Mrs. Kieser had seven children, Victor, Alex, Molly (Gomer), Lydia (Kukes), Pauline (Fox), Kate (Critelli), and Louise (Rupple). They were members of the Faith Lutheran Church and are buried at Elmwood Cemetery. Mr. Kieser died March 17, 1960 and Mrs. Kieser June 16, 1958. [CFH] -- KIHLTHAU My father was John (Johannes) Kihlthau and my mother was Anna Repp. They were both born in Norka, Russia and came to the United States in 1909 when my mother was 20 years old. She was born January 27, 1889. My dad's parents were Phillip Kihlthau and Elizabeth Krause. Dad was born October 3, 1888. My folks went into Canada as their sponsors were not there to meet the boat, and the first two children were born there, Mike and Marie. The rest of the children were born at Scottsbluff, Nebraska. My father owned a farm west of Toppenish on South McKinley Road. The folks moved to the Valley in 1937 and were members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church at Wapato. Rev. George Kissler had the service for my father. There were 14 children born to my parents, Martin (Mike); Marie (Schnell); Kathryn (Kaufman); Henry; Elizabeth (Kurtz); Alexander; John; Albert; Wilma (Slagle); Lydia (Thomas); Lucille (Moss); Leroy; Dolores (Corbin); and myself, Jeanette (Bowman). My father had been a farmer at Scottsbluff and many of the family are still there. My mother died December 20, 1967. Her parents were Henry Repp and Katherine Elizabeth Kaldenheger. My dad died June 26, 1941, he is buried at Elmwood Cemetery. [Information from Jeanette Kihlthau Bowman By Louise Potter - CFH] -- KINSFATHER Conrad, born in Lincoln, Nebraska on December 15, 1884. His parents immigrated to the U.S. in the 1880s. Not much information is available about this period of the Kinsfather family. Conrad married Sophie Hefeneider. She was born in Norka, Russia on March 28, 1887. She came to America in 1906 at the age of 19 with a brother. She married Conrad shortly after she came to Lincoln. They did not stay at Lincoln but moved to Billings, Montana. They made their living at farming. The children born to them at Billings were: Roy, born in 1909, he married Freda Harding, died at Yakima, Wa. in 1973; Leo, born December 12, 1911, he served in the military during World War II, he was a Sgt. with the 358 Bomb Sq. AAF, he died December 11, 1959; John, born at Billings date unknown, lived at Lebanon, Or.; Conrad, born April 29, 1917, married Virginia Putnam, they lived in Yakima, Wa.; Elsie, born in 1919 at Toppenish, she married Mr. Burkhart; Alfred, born April 7, 1921 at Toppenish, Wa., he died on April 20, 1982; Clara lives at Portland and is married to Mr. Owen. This family joined the Pilgrim Congregational Church at Wapato, Wa. Some of the children were confirmed there. Conrad died May 13, 1959 and Sophie on July 18, 1951. Both are interred in Terrace Heights Memorial Park at Yakima, Wa. [Information from Conrad Kinsfather By Frieda Brulotte YHR- 1988] -- KIRKOFFNER My brother, Frank Kirkoffner, was also born in Odessa, Russia August 16, 1896. He lived in the Yakima Valley approximately 40 years prior to his death August 14, 1956. He was a nurseryman working for the Washington Nursery. At the time of his death, he was survived by two brothers, August Kirkoffner and Joe Eberts, and four sisters, Martha (Knatch), myself (Leone Bangs), Katherine (Bangs) and Magdeline (Cheney) and his wife, Philomena. Out father was Joseph Kirkoffner and our mother was Mary Eberts. His wife, Philomena (Master) Kirkoffner, was born in Odessa, Russia, Elsass, Ukraine. She was born in 1895 and was approximately nine years old when the family came to the United States. The Mastel family came to the Yakima Valley in 1910. She was an employee of Del Monte. They were members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Toppenish and she was a member of the Altar Society of the church. She died June 3, 1979 and was survived by two sisters, Katie Mastel and Mary Andreas, she had lived in the valley 69 years. They are buried in Elmwood Cemetery. [Information by Leona (Kirkoffner) Bangs By Louise Potter - CFH] -- KIRSCH Amanda (Berndt) Kirsch, was born on the boat when her folks were emigrating from Russia. Her father was Fred Berndt and her mother was Maria Herrlich, both born in Russia. She was born May 23, 1893. Mrs. Kirsch died August 22, 1939 at Toppenish. She was survived by her husband, Jacob. Rev. George Kissler from Wapato had the service. She is buried at Elmwood Cemetery. [CFH] -- KIRSCH Jacob was born in Russia on October 6, 1879. He was married to Dora Kline in Russia. They immigrated to the U.S. and settled at Medina, North Dakota. Dora was born in 1878 in Russia. Born to them at Medina was a son, Edwin. He was born September 9, died at the age of 38 on June 21, 1953. They lived at Toppenish, Wa. Edwin was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery. Jacob was a laborer, lived in Toppenish. He died December 25, 1950. He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery. [YVGS] -- KIRSCH Jacob Kirsch, who lived in the Toppenish area for 30 years, died December 25, 1950. He was born in Russia and came to the United States in 1910. He was survived by his wife, Mabel and three children, Albert, Edwin and Ida. He was a nurseryman. They were members of the Seventh Day Church of God, pastor Wm. Heuer had the service. [CFH] -- KISSLER George, born in Frank, Russia on September 20, 1879. He married Marie/Mary Phenning from Kolb, Russia. Marie was born July 3, 1877. She and George immigrated to the United States in 1900. They settled first at McCook, Nebraska. The next few years he moved his family to a number of states and places, to Loveland, Colorado; Belle Fourche, South Dakota; and Buena, Washington. At these places he and family worked in the beet fields, and at other types of farming. They came to the Yakima Valley in 1920. They were charter members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. George played an important part in the formation of the church. Marie was a charter member of the Ladies Aid Society. Raising a family of five sons and four daughters. After many years on the farm they retired to the City of Wapato. Mary died on June 7, 1962. George on September 15, 1972. They left many fond memories, both were loved by all their family and friends. Their sons were, *Carl, *Gus, Sam, Ben and Dan; the daughters were Ella, Hilda, Mary and *Rachel. [Information from Martha (Mrs. Gus) Kissler By Frieda Brulotte] * "Some Recollections Of Life in Russia", as told by Papa to his Daughter Rachel * Carl's story follows * Gus's story follows "SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF LIFE IN RUSSIA" As Told By Papa To His Daughter Rachel Papa left Russia to go to America in the year 1900, leaving all of the members of his immediate family behind. These were his father, John Kissler; his mother, whose maiden name was Anna Marie Ditter; four sisters, one older and three younger than he; and two brothers, Conrad and John, both younger. One sis, Marie Catherine, now deceased, was the only one of the immediate family to come to America later. She, with her husband and their children, emigrated around 1913. A son, Conrad Bauer, Jr., lives at 5955 12th Street in Sacramento, California 95820. He had corresponded with the folks the past few years and occasionally sent them gifts. He would be a good source of information for family history. Papa has heard from none of the family since the Russian Revolution of 193O, with the exception of John. He assumed that they were all dead or prisoners of the Russians, when suddenly in 1958, after a silence of twenty-eight years, he received a letter from John. He wrote, that during the revolution, he had been separated from his family and sent to Siberia. After about five years, he was reunited with his wife and one son. He never heard from his other two sons. In his letter, which seemed rather guarded, he said he was in good health and living with his son who was working in a factory in the city of Karaganda. In looking it up, we found that Karaganda, population 165,000, is in the State of Kazakh, which has a total population of six million, mostly of the Mongolian race. In the letters exchanged, (I well remember -- Papa and I both corresponded with him), he asked for a German hymn book, clothing, reading glasses and a razor. I sent him some woolen sox on which he had to pay a duty of one hundred rubles. The post office officials told him, at the time, that the money would be sent to me -- it wasn't. A little while later, we sent him a package of the special items he had asked for. It was returned, with the contents intact, because Uncle John couldn't pay the excessively high duty on it. Sadly, he wrote to us not to try to send him anything more -- that when he heard the package was on its way, he had wept tears of joy, which soon turned to sorrow when he went to pick it up at the post office and was told the duty on it was 365 rubles. Even though he couldn't have the things we had sent, he wanted us to know how deeply he was touched by our caring and that he was very grateful for the love extended to "your old Uncle John". Papa sent some books, which didn't reach him. Could have been a case of censorship. We also sent him small sums of money that he did receive. The Russian government had restrictions on the amount that could be transmitted. It had taken Uncle John over a year to trace the folk's address through distant relatives. He was 75 years old at the time. A few letters were exchanged over a period of about five years. Papa's forefathers were quite long-lived, considering that there was little or no professional health care. His father lived to be around 85 years of age and his mother 66. His maternal grandfather, Casper Kissler, lived to be well into his eighties. He outlived three wives. Henry Ditter, his maternal grandfather, too, lived to be up in his eighties. Mama's father was Peter Phenning. She had four brothers. Peter, John, Henry and Carl, and three sisters. Carl was the only one who came to America, he died at Ritzville some years ago. Papa was born and brought up in Frank, which had a population of about 12,000. Mama's town was Kolb, population around 5,000. The two towns were a distance of about seven miles apart. The attrition of war, revolution and mass deportation of the inhabitants to Siberia, eventually put them out of existence, they are no longer shown on the map. Papa's father and his grandfather, each, served a mayor of Frank for a three-year term. Mama's father, too, served a term as mayor of Kolb. It took a man of some character, intelligence and education to hold office. The duties were similar to those of our mayors, but in a more advisory capacity. The religion in these towns was either Lutheran or Reformed. Our folks were Lutheran, but when they came to America went over to the Congregational Church because it was more liberal, in that laymen were permitted to take part in the services. The Russians, with whom the Germans seldom mixed, were predominantly Catholic. There was only one Lutheran church building in Frank, but it made up in size what was lacking in number. A balcony added to the seating capacity, while wooden benches served as seats. It did not have a heating system, making it necessary to hold church services in the schoolhouse during the winter months. This was heated by two large iron stoves, one at each end of the room. In order to distribute the heat more evenly, the stoves pipes stretched across the entire length of this spacious room, met in the center and went on up through the ceiling. The church was served by traveling pastors who came about every six weeks. They were so highly educated, however, that most of the congregation did not benefit from their sermons. On other Sundays, the sermons were read by the "Schoolmasters". Just before Papa came to America, the church acquired an organ. The story of the church bells is an interesting one. The church was equipped with three bells. A small one, a medium one, and a large one. On Sunday mornings, the small bell would ring at 9 o'clock, the medium one at 9:30, and all three of them at 10 o'clock. Thus everyone knew what time it was by the sound of the bells. After the last ringing, no late comers were permitted to enter the church, even if they were close to the church building. Deaths were announced by the ringing of the bells in this manner: three dongs pause, three dongs pause, three dongs. The small bell was rung when an unconfirmed child died, the medium one for a teenager and the large one for an adult. On stormy nights, when any of the family had not arrived home from the fields or from a trip, the bells rang continually. The bell ringer was a man who took the job on contract. Most of the people were farmers but the land was community property. The acres were parceled out to each family according to the number of boys in it. When a boy was born, he got about two acres, the girls didn't rate. Every seven years, the acreage was traded for another one by drawing lots. This was done to avoid discrimination, since some land parcels were more fertile than others. Everyone lived close together in the towns or "dorfs" as they were called. Each family went out to work its field and stayed for as long as a week at a time. They either pitched a tent or lived out in the open if the weather permitted. One person, usually an older woman, stayed at home to do the baking and cooking. The prepared food was taken out to the workers, about twice a week, by one of the older men. The crops were wheat, oats, rye and a few apple orchards. Each family had a vegetable garden for it's own use. They were dependent on rainfall and when there was a lack of it, there were some crop failures. During these dry spells, some of the apple trees were irrigated with buckets of water brought from the river nearby. The soil was tilled with iron plows drawn by oxen. Horses were used mainly for transportation. Harvesting was done by hand. Each family had a few sheep, hogs and cows. All the animals from the entire settlement were gathered each day and herded in the fields by hog, cow or sheep herders, as the case might be, and brought back in the evening to their respective owners. It would be interesting to know how mix-ups were avoided. There were few stores as we know them. Frank had three general stores, one of which was owned and operated by Papa's family. They handled mostly raw materials and staples, such as leather, cotton dry goods, needles, thread, thimbles, wooden spoons, nails, salt, sugar, candy, honey, raisins, dried prunes, pepper, tobacco, cigarettes, soap, etc. The town had one liquor store which sold vodka and wine, measured out from large kegs into smaller kegs furnished by the customers. The money used was rubles, gold, silver, copper and paper. Community flour mills, that could be operated by four men, took care of their grain grinding needs. These were located on the river and powered mainly by water wheels, sometimes by windmills. Itinerant shoemakers, in groups of three or four, came into the homes and custom-made several pairs of boots for each member of the family, enough to last a whole year. Most of them were made of horse hide, some of sheep's wool for winter use. Any repair work necessary, was done by local shoemakers who had their shops in their homes. Carpenters, blacksmiths and harness makers also had shops in their homes. There were no professional doctors, dentists or veterinarians. A few men and women, who were exceptionally gifted, administered care to the sick. However, the mortality rate, especially among the babies, was high. Papa said they were vaccinated for small pox. I failed to get the details. When a death occurred, there were no undertakers in the doffs to take care of the dead. The body was washed, dressed and put into a casket which had been made by a carpenter. The cost of the casket was three rubles, which amounted to about $1.50 at that time. The houses were built of lumber from cedar logs that had been floated down the river into town. These were sawed into 6-inch thick planks, lengthwise, with a handsaw. Very hard and tedious work. The finished planks were inter-locked by grooves and fastened with wooden staples. Old rags were used for stuffing to fill the cracks and clay, present in the area, provided the plaster for the interior walls. Occasionally a white clay deposit was found which was a real prize. Two-inch thick planks were used for the flooring. Materials for the windows were brought in from Saratov and assembled by carpenters who were skilled craftsmen. Like our storm windows, these were double the outer ones being removed in the spring. All homes had shutters for added warmth. Material for roofing was a thatching made of rye straw. Little bunches of this straw, with the heads facing in one direction, were tied to the rafters, arranged in a way similar to our shingles. The finished roof was a work of art and as Papa said, beautiful to behold. The average house had two large rooms. One was the combined living room and kitchen and the other contained the beds, which were separated by curtains. The rooms were heated by fireplaces made of clay. A mixture of dried manure and straw, pressed into blocks, was used for fuel. This gave out good heat and lasted a long time. There was no vegetation, such as grass, trees or flowers around the houses in the doffs, due to the lack of water and the amount of care it would have taken to maintain it. Sand from the river bank was strewn on the floor, to more or less absorb the dirt and mud tracked in from the clay soil, and once a day was swept up and replaced with a clean layer. Now and then, a member of the family demonstrated artistic ability by brushing designs in it. Water for all purposes was taken from the river which ran alongside the dorf. Barrels, on carts were filled with water for household use and set in an easily accessible place in the yard. Spigots on the barrels were as near as they came to having kitchen conveniences. The laundry was soaped and rubbed by hand, boiled in a big kettle and then taken to the river to be rinsed. Temperatures ranged from 30 degrees below zero in the winter to 90 degrees above in the summer. Papa's folks had an ice cellar in which chunks of ice, broken out of the river in the winter time, were stored. This cellar had an opening on top with a removable lid or cover, and whenever they wanted to keep something cold, they used this opening to put the food or whatever it was, on the ice. Food was plentiful but plain and served simply. The dishes were wooden bowls that served a double purpose. In a family if fifteen, for example, several of these large bowls, filled with whatever food had been prepared for the meal, would be set on the table and everyone then ate right of the these "servers". Wooden spoons were used in place of silverware. It would seem that the one with the quickest reflexes would get the choicest morsels. Occasionally, there were quarrels when someone would get a bowl over the head. Children usually ate at a separate table. A family included, not only the parents and their children, but the grandparents as well, sometime aunts and uncles and almost always sons of daughters-in-law. With so many people under one roof, there was bound to be dissension at times. A pecking order often developed where one dominated and others had to take a back seat. Marriages, contrary to our custom, were prearranged by the parents. Engagement parties were held when the bride and groom-to-be would meet, sometimes for the first time. This occasion was "toasted" with a few drinks. The intent to marry was announced for three consecutive Sundays, in church; as the Catholics do now. Mass weddings were held, often with as many as twenty-five couples at a time; always in the winter months when they weren't busy working in the fields. There was no divorce but Papa thought there were times when there should have been. Frank had a public school where reading, writing, spelling and religion were taught. Those who could afford it, and there weren't many, went to private school where the students were taught the additional subjects of arithmetic, geography and history, as well as the Russian language and English script. Papa and his brothers were sent to private school from the time they were six until they were fifteen, in order to improve their use and knowledge of the Russian language. Papa was sent from home, for three years, to go to school in another town where he could live with a Russian family. The school itself, was run by Germans. There was not much time for recreation during the spring and summer months. They went swimming in the river. In fact, it was their one means of bathing. Papa was a good swimmer. In the spring, they played a simple form of baseball with a home-made ball of leather, stuffed with some kind of packing. In the winter time, the girls spent the evenings spinning wool, sewing, knitting and visiting. There wasn't much of anything for the boys to do, in a constructive way. They skated on the river with hand-made skates of wood with a strip of iron on the bottom, only one skate was used. One of the thrilling sports played on the ice was done with a sled fastened onto the end of a twenty-foot pole, which was connected in such a way that, while rotating around the center pole, it swung the sled in circles at very high speeds. There was a great deal of snow, along with winds strong enough to pile it into high drifts. As a matter of course the means of transportation in the winter time was by sled. Because the folks had the store, they had to make frequent trips to Saratov for supplies, a distance of sixty miles. On these trips, five or six single horse-drawn sleds were used to haul the goods, only the first and last sleds had drivers. The horses in the middle were trained to follow. On one of these missions, while they were traveling at night, such a violent storm came up that they lost all sense of direction and soon found they were off the road. All they could do was stop and wait for daylight and the storm to abate. Warm clothing protected them from the hazards of exposure. Papa, a teenager then, was along on the trip. Saratov, at that time, was quite a large city but rather primitive in many ways. On the buying trips, the folks stayed at a hotel but took their own food supply with them. They were furnished hot water for tea. The place was supposed to have running water, but seemingly, the water had not gotten the message, it didn't run. Toilet facilities were encompassed in one large outdoor privy, no relation to privacy. The waste was hauled away every morning, in open wagons, out of the city to heaven knows where. Apparently, that was the system in use all over town. The Russians, with whom the folks came into contact, were not as clean, learned or progressive as the Germans, but they did have something the Germans didn't -- steam baths. Papa was christened John George (Mama called him Han-Yerg). He was born on September 20, 1879 and died September 15, 1972. His ancestors migrated from Hanover, Germany to Russia about two hundred years ago. *Carl Kissler, oldest child of the George Kissler family. He was born on May 13, 1900, in McCook, Nebraska. He came to the Yakima Valley with his family in 1920. Carl married Marie Woitt, daughter of George Woitt and Katherine Reisig both from Walter, Russia. Marie was born in 1907 in Russia. She was six weeks old when they came to America. The Woitt family settled at Odessa, Washington. They were married in the 1920s. Carl was a farmer and was selected Senior Farmer of the year in the Toppenish area in 1966. He was a member of the Cenex Board of directors (formerly United Farmers Co-op). Marie died in November 1960, to them were born eleven children, five sons and six daughters they are; Carl, Jr., Donald of McClellan Air Force Base, California, Richard, David and Rodney. The six daughters are; Dorothy Youngren, Mary Laublightel, Rose Lee Astenius, Alvina Phillips, Sarah Staudinger and Kathleen. In 1971, Carl and Eva Wixom were married. She was born in Indianapolis, Ind. and came as a teenager to Wapato in 1910. Her parents were David and Kate Wurth. Carl died September 9, 1976, Eva lived to the age of 96, she died July 24, 1989. They left their large families and many grandchildren. [YHR] *Gus Kissler son of George Kissler, his story and Martha Woitt Kissler as written by Martha. Martha Woitt and Gus Kissler were married January 16, 1927 at high noon in the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato, Washington. We first met as neighbors and also went to the same church. After 14 1/2 years we were blessed with a son, Larry Ray Gustave Kissler, who gave us two grandchildren, Kristin and Eric Edward. Our first home was at 703 Yakima Avenue, Wapato, Wa. We both worked at the Horticulture warehouse. I packed fruit for 3 cents per box and Gus was paid 12 cents an hour. In 1930 we moved to Harrah, Wa. where Gus was employed as a caretaker for Grey Poplers for two years. He earned $90.00 a month and a rent free apartment. I continued to work in Wapato, driving 8 miles. In 1932 we went to California and worked at a variety of jobs while living with Clyde and Ella McPherson. After one year, we returned to sell our house in town. We then bought a home with 15 acres two miles south of Wapato where we started a dairy in 1933. Eighteen cows were milked morning and night and the bottled milk was delivered to regular customers in town. Bottled milk sold for 7 cents per quart. After nine years the price increased to 12 cents per quart. One winter the road was so bad with chuck holes and with a Model-T pickup there were butter flakes in the milk by the time it was delivered. Eventually, oil was used to improve the roads. The dairy ranch was sold to a trucker and the cows and milk route to Gus's parents. The dairy was too much work for them so the business was abandoned after a short time. In 1943 we purchased a three bedroom house on a 20 acre tract for $5,000. The place was in a run-down condition. This was during the second world war and Larry was about 3 years old. In the 1950's 80 acres was rented for truck farming. Vegetables and tomatoes were raised for the Wapato Fruit Products. Hay and wheat were also grown. There were more good years than bad in the 50's. We tore down all the old buildings and built a big shed and shop. Initially, the shop was a chicken house and barn for five cows. Milk was put into cans and a delivery man picked it up. Then we started remodeling the house. We quit farming in 1966 and rented the land to Tosh Umemote. Gus worked parttime for his brother, Carl, until 1972 and then a couple of years for Tosh. A brief sketch about Martha and Gus is as follows: Martha retired in 1976 when the Wapato Fruit Products was closed down, but she was ready to quit. Gus had all his schooling in Colorado, Nebraska and South Dakota, as his family moved so often. He went only to the 9th grade and then had to quit school to help with the farm work. Martha's schooling was two years at Odessa and 6 1/2 yrs. at Wapato. Martha and Gus were members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. Gus was treasurer for the church for 10 years - 1945 to 1955. He also helped remodel the church which is still standing at East 3rd Street, Wapato, Wa. Gus was born in Loveland, Colorado in 1901. The family moved from there to different places; Belle Fourche, SD was the last place before they moved to the Yakima Valley. First to Buena where they farmed sugar beets for a few years, then moved to Wapato about three miles from town, between Ashue and Jones road. Martha was born in Odessa, Wa. in 1909, her family lived in town. In 1917 the family moved to the Yakima Valley to work in the sugar beets. They worked one summer for the William's. The Woitts bought 10 acres of orchard, it had been owned by a banker. Martha lived there with her family for eight years. She became acquainted with Gus during those years. She went to work at the age of 16 in the fruit warehouse - learned how to pack fruit. Gus died July 20, 1985. Martha sold the ranch (20 acres) to Lee Hefflinger on June 20, 1979. Mr. Hefflinger planted it all in hops. Martha sold the house, shop and shed to Soheil and Lourice Kermani in September 1986. Then moved to a mobile home park in Yakima. [Information from Martha Kissler By Frieda Brulotte ] -- KISSLER George (Rev.). Born in Frank, Russia on June 21, 1892. He was the son of Frederick Kissler and Margaret Herbst. They immigrated to America in 1899 when George was seven years of age. They settled at Ritzville, and Odessa, Wa., where he attended school there. He was living in Odessa when he and Clara Eckhardt were married, May 18, 1915. Clara was the daughter of Conrad Eckhardt and Anna Getz. Clara was born in Bickelton, Wa., where the Eckhardt's were of the early settlers. She was born on March 27, 1895. The Eckhardts moved to Odessa when Clara was a young girl. Until George went to theology college they lived in Odessa, Wa. Their first child a girl, Oletha was born there on February 6, 1916. They moved to South Dakota where he attended college and graduated in June 1920 from Redfield Theological School. While at Redfield a son, Roland George was born, February 21, 1918. Another daughter was born to them while serving a church in Trochu, Alberta, Canada. They named her Miriam born February 15, 1922. Later while serving a church in Laurel, Montana, a son was born, Norman Donald, September 28, 1928. Rev. Kissler served in the ministry for 37 years. He was stricken with Parkinson's disease, and retired to his home in Odessa, Wa. in 1954, where he died on June 6, 1965. One of the churches he served was the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato, Wa. It was during the years 1938 thru 1942. Some of the churches he served are: Trochu, Alberta, Canada; Laurel, Montana; Denver, Colorado; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Burt, North Dakota; Hazen, North Dakota; Lincoln, Nebraska; Fresno, California; Shattuck, Oklahoma. Their daughter, Oletha died on March 21, 1986 in Spokane, Wa. She was the wife of Adolph Borgens. Their son Norman, died March 7, 1985 in Lincoln, Nebraska. The information of this family was obtained from their daughter, Miriam. She with her husband Roy Knopp, live at Selah, Wa. [Information from Miriam Knopp- By Frieda Brulotte] -- KLASSEN Henry, born in Russia in 1831. He was a farmer. The 1910 census of Yakima County listed him as 44 years of age. He received his naturalization papers in 1875. His wife Lena, was born in Russia in 1840. They were early arrivals in the Yakima Valley. [1910 Yakima County Census] -- KLEBAUM Adolph, born in Russia in 1888. He came to the U.S. with his parents when he was an infant. He was reared in North Dakota, moved to the Yakima Valley in 1938. He married Meata Baerwald ca 1913. Meata was born in 1897 in Russia. Her family lived in North Dakota. For many years the Klebaum's owned and operated the Klebaum's Market in Gleed, Wa. They were members of the Lower Naches Grange and also of Hope Lutheran Church in Wapato. Adolph died June 16, 1974. Meata lived to the age of 92. She passed away October 4, 1974. She left daughters; Ruth Symonds of Lynnwood, Wa.; Beata McGuire of Yakima, and sisters: Selma Baerwald, Ella Peterson, Rosamond Boecher, Irene Zwick and Almas Nystrom all of Lodi, Ca and brothers: Erhard Baerwald of San Francisco, Cal; Alfred Baerwald of Lodi, Ca. Besides her husband she was preceded in death by four sons. Funeral services were held in Hope Lutheran Church in Wapato. Internment in Reservation Community Memorial Park. [By Florence Gans Klebaum - YHR] -- KLEBAUM Ludwig, born in Russia December 10, 1884. He was the son of John Klebaum and Julia Balck (Julia was born in Poland). Merritt Funeral Home had this listing but very limited information about Ludwig. He died April 23, 1939. His survivors were his wife and eight children, six daughters and two sons. [MFH] -- KLEIN Adolph Donald Klein lived just four years in the Granger area before his death. He was the son of Simon Klein and Elizabeth Scholl. He and his parents were born in Russia, he in 1897. He was survived by his father who lived at Bismarck, North Dakota, and six brothers, Jacob, Peter, Daniel, Ludwig, Adam and Simon, Jr. [CFH] -- KLEINGARTNER Maria Kleingartner was born August 22, 1881 in South Russia. She was the daughter of Jacob and Wilhelmina Birchagen who were also born in Russia. She was a housewife, she died November 29, 1953. [MM] -- KNOPP John, born in Frank, Russia on April 16, 1896. He was the son of Henry Knopp and Marie Barbara Willman. He came to America with his parents in 1903, arriving at Ellis Island, N.Y. They first came to Garden City, Kansas, later, for only a short time to Lincoln, Nebraska. From there they moved to Sugar City, Idaho. Many Germans from Russia were settling at Sugar City at that time. The Knopp's acquired a homestead near the town of Paul, Idaho. Young John attended school at Paul. Just how many years of schooling he received is not known. Living at Paul, Idaho at that time was the Koch family. The oldest daughter was Caroline, she was born on July 2, 1897 in Kolb, Russia. The only child of the Koch family to be born in Russia. She and John were married and lived at Paul for a few years. While there, the first three of their children were born, Albert, Lillian and Roy. The move to the Yakima Valley was made in 1922. John at first farmed for the U & I Sugar Company. He then went into farming for himself by renting the land. In 1927 he bought some acreage located near McKinley School, west of Toppenish, Wa. Beside open ground farming he raised cattle. Another enterprise he went into was with his son Al. They opened the Wapato Implement Co. They sold the Oliver Brand machinery in the 1930's. With two of his sons, Roy and Harold, they bought 320 acres of land in Selah from the pioneer Clemens Ranch which they farmed for many years. John and Caroline moved into the city of Yakima in 1953. While living in the Lower Valley they were active members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church. John and Caroline are now living in a retirement home. The children born to them after arriving in the Yakima Valley are, Harold, Ruby and Shirley. [Information from Roy and Miriam Knopp, June 1987 - By Frieda Brulotte] -- KOCH Alexander, born in Kolb, Russia on August 5, 1876 where he grew up. As a young man he served in the Russian Army. While in the army he played an instrument in the band. He married Anna Fahrenbruch from Frank, Russia, the daughter of David Fahrenbruch and Marid Hill. Anna was born in 1876. She and Alexander were married on June 9, 1896. Born to them was their daughter, Caroline, July 2, 1897. They came to the U.S. in 1902. They first settled at Weatherford, Oklahoma. Alexander was a farmer but also was good at carpentry and did much work as a carpenter. They left Oklahoma and moved to Hastings, Nebraska where their son, Victor, was born on May 1, 1906. In the ensuing years they moved to several states. For a time they lived at Ritzville, Wa., Fruita, Colorado and Paul, Idaho. The other children born to them were: Sarah, born at Ritzville, Wa. on February 16, 1908; Harold, born at Fruita, Colorado, November 4, 1909; Phillip, at Green River, Colorado in 1911; Ruby, born at Fruita, Colo. on June 20, 1913; Raymond, and at Fruita, Colo. on May 20, 1915; Rachel, at Paul, Idaho on October 20, 1917; Levene, at Paul, Idaho on May 8, 1920. The family moved to the Yakima Valley in 1923. This was their final move. Their daughter, Caroline married John Knopp when they lived at Paul, Idaho. They also moved to the Yakima Valley. Alexander bought land and built their home on it and they farmed the land. Besides farming he did carpentry work. They joined the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato, he helped in the building of the church. Anna Margaret and Alexander celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday, June 16, 1946. After the Sunday morning worship service, they, with the family went to Yakima and had a dinner celebrating the occasion. This was followed by an afternoon "open house" at the Koch home. Many guests and friends assembled. They retired from the farm and moved to Wapato. Anna Margaret died on April 23, 1948 and Alexander on July 7, 1951. His parents were Philip Koch and Marie Benzel. Their son, Victor, died on May 31, 1988, he left his wife, Cordelia. Their daughter, Rachel (Barger), died July 2, 1990, she left her husband Alden. They were all members of Central Washington Chapter of A.H.S.G.R. [Information from Victor and Cordelia - By Frieda Brulotte] -- KOCH Andrew, born in Dietal, Russia to John Koch and Katherine Bolt, on March 10, 1887. In the same village lived Mary Mills with whom he was acquainted. She was born in 1891. Andrew came to America with his parents. They settled first at Billings, Montana. Mary left Russia in 1913 for the U.S. Her destination was Billings, Montana. Shortly after her arrival she married Andrew. The date was August 3, 1913. They lived in Montana for five years, then moved on to Worland, Wyoming. They left there in 1919 for the Yakima Valley. With them was their young nephew, Henry Ring. He was raised under their guardianship. Mary and Andrew had five children, three sons and two daughters. Mary's family all stayed in Russia except one sister, she also came to America. Her life was short-lived, she died in 1915. All of Mary's family that stayed in Russia perished during the Russian Civil War. Andrew died November 5, 1939 at the age of 52. In 1942 Mary moved to Seattle where she lived with some of her family. In September, at age 91, she was given special recognition by her church for her long life and ethnic heritage. [Information from Henry and Juanita Ring - By Frieda Brulotte] -- KOCH Chris, born in Russia. His wife was Christine Beierle, she was born in Bulgaria. A son Raymond Douglas was born on March 15, 1929 at Douglas, Wyoming. He died January 29, 1944. He is buried at Sunnyside, Washington. [NFN/YVGS] -- KOCH Conrad, born in Russia on March 19, 1880. His wife, Mary, was born January 18,1890. She was the daughter of Joseph Koch. She died at age 36 on April 24, 1926. Conrad died February 13, 1958. [MFH] -- KOCH Jacob, born in Russia in 1877. His first marriage was to Margaret Goble. She was born December 8, 1898, and was the daughter of Henry Goble. They immigrated to America in 1913. Margaret died at an early age on December 6, 1929. She is buried in Tahoma Cemetery. Jacob's second wife was Katherine Margaret, widow of Jake Hofferber. Jacob was a farmer, he died in 1959, after which time Katherine moved to the Ahtanum district. She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She died in 1968. Her survivors were the children of Jake Hofferber. Jake Jr. and Conrad were born in Russia. Conrad on August 24, 1910. Ben, Ray and Emil born in U.S., also daughters, Emma, Martha and Johanna. Jacob Sr. and Katherine are interred in West Hills Memorial Park at Yakima. [YHR] -- KOCH Peter, born in Russia on January 10, 1861. His father was Henry Koch. Peter married Mary M. Miller, daughter of Jacob Miller born in 1865 in Russia. When they emigrated is not known. They were early settlers in the Yakima Valley, and lived in North Wapato. Mary died in June of 1928 at the age of 63; Peter on November 13, 1936 at the age of 75. They had a daughter, Mrs. V.J. Crossman. Both are interred in Tahoma Cemetery, Yakima. [YHR] -- KOHLER Peter, son of Michael Kohler and Katherine Centner, was born January 4, 1890. He came to America with his parents, they settled in North Dakota. He married Rose Mary Katzenbuler. She was born September 20, 1888 at Odessa, Russia. They were married November 3, 1914 at Valley City, North Dakota. They moved to Yakima, Washington in July 1935. He was a finish carpenter and cement finisher by trade, later working at St. Joseph's Academy for eight years. On November 26, 1983, Rose preceded Peter in death. She was 95 years old. She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and St. Joseph's Altar Society. She was survived by her husband, two sons, Peter and George Kohler, and six daughters, Marilyn Kohler, Helen Burham, Rose Winkler, Eleanor Bossert, Alice Klundt and Rita May Heneline. Peter enjoyed gardening, playing cards, wood working and making furniture and toys for his children. He died December 24, 1985. He also was 95 years old and survived by his two sons, and six daughters. [YHR] -- KRAFT Reuben L. was born June 6, 1907 at Garden City, Kansas. He married Lydia Peil, daughter of George Peil and Millie Rutz. Lydia was born in Russia on February 28, 1908. They were married November 25, 1925 at Scottsbluff, Ne. Her family immigrated to midwestern Canada and later to Billings, Montana. They moved to Sunnyside in 1942. They were members of Calvary Baptist Church. They moved to Vancouver Washington in 1956. Reuben preceded Lydia in death. He died February 14, 1960. Lydia was survived by her mother, Molly Elsaser, son Tom of Wenatchee; three daughters, June Cole of Vancouver, Peggy Underwood of Grandview and Valerie Van Horn of Portland, Ore. Also seven sisters: Mrs. Polly Ross, Gering, Nebraska; Mrs. Hilda Thorson, Portland; Mrs. Molly Roe, Mrs. Helen Raab and Mrs. Betha Zimbleman, all of Seattle; Mrs. Clara Turner, Sunnyside and Mrs. Ruth Bettendorf Portland and three brothers, Victor and Alex Peil of Sunnyside and Roy Peil, Portland. [YHR] -- KRAMER Arthur Kramer, husband of Sophie Weber was born March 13, 1905 at Ritzville, Washington. Mrs. Kramer was born August 17, 1900 at Hanover, Germany or Prussia. She married Arthur Kramer in Spokane. They lived in Spokane, White Bluff, Cold Creek, Sunnyside and Grandview where they did farm work. They farmed in Grandview (Wing Hill). Mr. Kramer was the son of John Kramer. He died October 17,1944, Mrs. Kramer died August 4, 1968. [MM] -- KRAMER Jack J. was born in Russia on April 9, 1904. At the age of four his family immigrated to the U.S. and settled in Colorado. Jack moved to Zillah in 1928 where he met Bessie Miller. She was born May 2, 1911 at Medford, Oregon. Her family had moved to Zillah when she was a child. In 1934, Jack moved to Terrace Heights and took a job at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. He and Bessie were married April 27, 1935. They moved to Yakima in 1939. He was superintendent of Calvary Cemetery and she was office manager until 1973. He held that post until his retirement. Bessie died June 30, 1981. She was survived by her husband, two brothers, Richard and Virgil Miller and two sisters, Marie Utter and Mabel Wotten, and her mother Effie Miller. Jack died February 15, 1982. He was preceded by his parents and three sister, Bea Palmesheim, Katie Hepp and Rose Puhl. They had been members of St. Paul's Cathedral in Yakima. [LMFH/YHR] -- KRAMER Yes, my parents were Germans from Russia. My father, Nicholas Tony Kramer was born on September 9, 1903 in Siberia. His father was Andrew Kramer and his mother was Catherine Francis Schell. They came to the United States when my father was six or seven years old, they came through Ellis Island. My mother was Sophie Katherine Pretiger, she was born in Kamenka, Russia March 10, 1906. I don't remember grandpa Pretiger's first name. Grandma Pretiger's maiden name was Urban. Mother was five or six when they emigrated. At that time, my grandfather had two choices, either he could go into the Army or become a priest, (my mother was the only child at the time). He didn't want either so he left Russia, escaping to South America where he worked. He sent money back to them, however, my grandmother's mother was a postmistress at the village where they lived and she didn't let my grandmother know the money was coming in as she didn't want her to leave. They were from Minsk, Russia. Eventually they did leave Russia and went to South America to join my grandfather. I don't know how long they were in South America, but they came to the United States through Texas and went to Delta, Colorado. My folks were married there in 1923. Dad worked on my grandfather's farm and then worked for the sugar company. When the depression came, he left us and came to the Yakima Valley, at that time there were four children, and went to where my uncle, Albert Schell, lived. He worked in the orchards and when he got enough money together, he sent for my mother and the children. I was five years old at the time. At first he worked in the orchards, the, WPA, at times he rode the rails looking for work at The Dalles and the upper valley, then when I was in the seventh grade he went to work at the sugar factory. That was seasonal so he worked various places. Later he got on full time for the sugar company which is what he wanted and later became an engineer for the U & I Sugar Company. In Siberia, grandfather Kramer was married to a lady and they had an Inn for travelers. When she died, he married my grandmother and they had eight children; Thomas; Michael; Peter; my father, Nicholas; John; Anna; Katherine and Elizabeth. He had children by his first wife however they went to various family members. My folks had seven children: Nicholas; myself; Clarence; Clara, who died as an infant; Anna Mae (Stoops); Dorothy (Caldwell); and Patricia (Wilson). My dad died November 29, 1975 at Toppenish. He had lived in the valley for 45 years, was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church and is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Yakima. After my dad died mother moved to Yakima. She was a member of the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and also the Central Washington Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. She died January 26, 1984. Beside her children, she was also survived by two brothers, Joe and Mike Pretiger and two sisters, Anna Swift and Teeny Berens. Mother died at my sister Dorothy's home in Tigard, Oregon. Her burial services were held in Yakima at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. [Information from Julia (Kramer) Evans - By Louise Potter - CFH/YHR] -- KRAUSE August born in West Prussia married on November 19, 1905 wife Caroline. She was born in South Russia, July 2, 1885. They came to the U.S. in 1906. Before moving to the Yakima Valley they had been in this country thirty one years. They settled at Wiley City in 1937. It is located west of Yakima, a good number of early settlers came to that area. One of the native Americans who lived there was a well known Indian Chief. Caroline fell ill of the flu and died of complications from it on April 2, 1941. Grace Lutheran Church records show her survivors, husband, two sisters, one brother, 5 daughters and three sons. Keith & Keith Funeral Home in charge of funeral arrangements. Buried at Tahoma Cemetery. [GLC] -- KREIN John Frank, born in Odessa, Russia in 1891. Immigrated to the U.S. and settled at Mclusky, North Dakota. In 1936 they moved to Selah, Wa. They were members of Evangelical Church of North America. He worked for the Ross Packing Company, Valley Evaporator, and then Snyder's Bakery. He married in 1913. He had six brothers, Jack, Fred, Emil, Gottlieb, Arthur and Harold also three sisters, Caroline Herr, Katherine Hoffer and Emma Bitterman. John died on August 9, 1972. Besides his wife, Dorothea, he was survived by two sons, Robert and Marvin and five daughters, Norma Montgomery, Antonia Renfro, Violet Wetzel, Hilda White and Olivia Van Wagoner. His son Robert born on January 14, 1917, had been a barber in Selah for 35 years. He owned the Moler Barber School in Yakima for eight years and also worked as an upholsterer. Robert died July 2, 1985. [LMFH/YHR] -- KRIEGER Conrad, born in Russia on October 23, 1869. He was married in Russia to Anna Mary Dearing. She was the daughter of Adam Dearing and Anna Mary Kaylor, and was born September 1, 1871. They came to the U.S. in 1893, landing at Baltimore harbor aboard the Wilhelm Kaiser II. They first settled in Montana, and in 1924 they moved to the Yakima Valley. They had also lived in Colorado. They raised a large family and were members of the Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. Anna preceded Conrad in death. She died on August 27, 1934. Conrad died May 16, 1949. A son, George Phillip was born in Norka, Russia on June 24, 1897. He came with his parents to the U.S. at age 6. The family settled in Montana where George worked for the Park Department driving stage coach and also trapping rogue animals. George married Rose T. Panisheck on August 9, 1918 in Bozeman, Montana. They came to the valley in 1923, a year before his parents. He farmed for their living in the Naches and Wenas area. In 1945 they moved to Zillah where they operated Krieger's grocery store. George died August 16, 1988 at age 91. His survivors were, four sons and one daughter, two brothers, Henry of Toppenish, and Bill of Yakima, a sister Louise Briner. He was preceded in death by his wife Rose, she died August 10, 1987, also 12 brothers and sisters. Conrad's son William (Bill) was born at Carbondale, Colorado, July 5, 1907. He was raised and educated at Bozeman Montana. He came with his family to the Yakima Valley at age 23. He married Rose F. Freauf. She was the daughter of John and Ann Freauf, born August 17, 1914 in Havelock, Nebraska. She and Bill were married Dec. 20, 1930 at Naches. She died September 17, 1983. Bill on April 27, 1989. He is survived by a brother, Henry (Hank) of Toppenish and a sister, Louise Briner. Also a son William and three daughters, Beverly Loges, Darlene Hammerstad, of Yakima, and Barbara Horrell of Norman, Okla. [S & S/YHR] -- KRIEGER George Phillip Krieger was born June 24, 1897 in Norka, Russia, to Conrad and Anna Marie (Dearing) Krieger. At the age of six he and his family arrived in Baltimore, Maryland aboard the Wilheim Kaiser II. Migrating to Montana, Mr. Krieger worked for a parks department, drove stage coach and trapped animals. Mr. Krieger married Rose T. Planischeck on August 9, 1918 in Bozeman, Montana. In 1923 the couple moved to the Yakima Valley, where they farmed in the Naches Heights and Wenas areas. In 1945 the couple moved to Zillah where they operated Krieger's Grocery Store until retiring to Yakima in 1967. Preceding Mr. Krieger in death were his wife, who died August 10, 1987 and 12 brothers and sisters. He was survived by four sons; George A. Krieger, Joe P. Krieger, John W. Krieger and James A. Krieger; a daughter, Rose Ann Minerich; two brothers, Henry Krieger and Bill Krieger; and a sister Louise Briner. He was a member of the Resurrection Catholic Church in Zillah and is buried at the Zillah Cemetery. Mr. Krieger died August 16, 1988. [YHR] -- KRISTFELT Fred, born in Russia in 1878. Not much information on this family is available. Fred came to the Yakima Valley in 1901. He worked for O.W.R.N. at Benton City as a foreman. He died January 9, 1925 and is buried in Tahoma Cemetery, Yakima. He left two brothers Chris, and Pete, born in 1887, died February 27, 1953. He had lived at Naches, Wa. Another brother, Charles preceded Pete in death. He was born in 1888 and died April 6, 1951. [YVGS] -- KRUEGER / KRUGER Ernst, born in Friedenstal, Bessarabia when it was still under the Romanian Territory (now belongs to Russia). Ernst was born on November 14, 1861. His father, Gottlieb Krueger was born in Pollua, Alt Prussia on January 4, 1824. Gottlieb married Johanna Freimark, December 1, 1827. Johanna died soon after her marriage. Gottlieb's second marriage was to Juliana, sister of Johanna. These families were of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The children born to Gottlieb and Juliana in Friedenstal were: Karalina, born October 13, 1850, married Johann Stadel, born June 26, 1847; Katharina, born July 10, 1862, married Jacob Stadel, born October 7, 1851; Gottlieb, born October 29, 1857, married Christine Holzwarth; Ernst, born November 14, 1861. Married Wilhelmina Thielman, born July 4, 1862 at Neu Elft, Bessarabia, a daughter of Jacob Dillman, she died July 29, 1939; William, born February 15, 1865; Elizabeth, born August 21, 1867; Heinrich, born February 21, 1871; Friederick, born January 2, 1873. The parents of both Ernst and Wilhelmina came to America with them in 1887, settling first at Java and Loyaltown, So. Dakota. The move farther west was in 1934. They came first to Pasco, Washington, then to Toppenish in 1937, and also to Wapato. They purchased land, and through farming, prospered. Wilhelmina could read and write English. She kept a diary of the detailed events of daily living. It is not only entertaining reading but gives a good account of their daily lives during that period of time. Wilhelmina died on July 29, 1939 and is buried at Toppenish. Ernst died March 14, 1949 and is buried at Wapato. Their daughter, Lydia, was born in Bessarabia. The other children were born in South Dakota. Ernst, born Sept. 18, 1888, married Fredricka Hagle; John, born 1890, married Ricka Banik, he died March 22, 1938; Emmanuel, born March 11, 1892, married Amelia Sieler, he died May 17, 1959, and is buried at Wapato; Amelia, born October 7, 1893, married Reinhold Weiss, died September 17, 1943; Julius, married Rosina Hagle, he died December 28, 1981, and is buried at Wapato; Reinhold, married Susan Green, he is deceased and buried at Richland; and Martha, married John Green, 2nd marriage to Ira Ethridge, she died in 1982 and is buried at Wapato. [Information from children of Julius: Walter and Ruby By Frieda Brulotte] -- KUKES Conrad was born in Russia on October 3, 1860. He was a son of Henry Kukes and Catherine E. Isiam, both parents were born in Russia. Conrad married Mary Susie Smith, daughter of Henry Smith. They came to the U.S. in 1902. Catherine was born February 7, 1863 in Russia. She died on August 6, 1944, and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery. Conrad died at age 74, on February 16, 1935. They had lived in the Yakima Valley for twenty-six years, (came in 1918). They lived mostly in the Toppenish area. A son, Phillip, born July 28, 1901, died April 27, 1965. He is buried in West Hills Memorial Park located near Yakima. [YVGS] -- KUKES My dad, Phillip John Kukes, was born in Kukkus Colony in Russia July 28, 1901. He was the son of Conrad and Mary Susana (Smith) Kukes. Conrad was born October 3, 1860 in Russia. He was the son of Henry and Catherine E. (Islam) Kukes, he died February 17, 1935. Mary was born in 1863 in Russia and died in 1944, she was the daughter of Heinrich Smith. They came to the United States in 1902. Dad married my mother, Mary Werner, February 13, 1923 in Yakima. She was also born in Russia. Her family lived in Canada prior to coming to Washington State, living at Ritzville before coming to the Yakima Valley. She worked there for a time as a doctor's housekeeper. She was born April 16, 1902. My dad came to the valley about 1919, married my mom in 1923 and they, along with my grandparents Kukes, Uncle Hank and Aunt Amelia (Brestar*), went to Michigan and were there a year or two before moving to Billings, Montana. They lived there a year then moved to Ritzville for a few months before returning to the Yakima Valley. The oldest son, Wilbert, was born in Pontiac, Michigan in 1926. Dad worked for the U & I Sugar Company and my grandfather, I believe, was a farmer with my uncle, Hank. The folks had four children, Wilbert, Leo, Lewis and Dorothy (Anderson). Dad had two brothers, Henry and John, and two sisters, Amelia (Brestar) and Anna (Goodman). [CFH/TR with information from Dorothy Anderson] *Estella (Brestar) Cooley's mother, Amelia, was born in the United States in 1903. She married Mr. Brestar, who was a Russian. There were ten children in mother's family. They were Conrad, Pete, Anna, John, Phillip, Amelia (herself), and Henry Kukes. Mrs. Brestar died in 1989. -- KUNTZ Harry, born in Russia on January 19, 1873. He was a son of George A. Kuntz and Theresa Yakim. The information is very sketchy about this family. His wife was Agnes (family name not known). He died March 9, 1936. The year of his coming to the Yakima Valley is also not known. He is interred in Calvary Cemetery. [YVGS] -- LANGE My ancestors originally lived in Volhynia, a province that belonged to Russia and after World War I was divided between Poland and Russia. There were many divisions of Poland, history records; first among the Germans, Austrians and Russians, starting at approximately 1795 to 1870, and then again after World Wars I and II. My maternal grandmother, Ernestine, of whom a birth certificate exists, was born in the village Budki, which lies about midway between present Warsaw and Kiev in the Russian Ukraine. The birth certificate gives her birth date as September 14, 1861. Her parents were Julius and Pauline Bluschke, and maternal grandparents as John and Justine Perschke, who lived in the province Volhynia (German) or Wolinsk (Polish). Our father, Joseph Lange, served in the Russian military approximately seven years and fought in the Russian Navy during the Russian-Japanese war of 1905-06. In October of 1907, Josef Lange, son of Michael Lange, and his wife, Emelie, maiden name Zigelske, was married to Adolfine Arndt, daughter of August Arndt and his spouse Ernestine, maiden name Bluschke. Josef and Adolfine were born and raised in the village Zhitomir in the Ukraine, Province Volhynia. Soon after their marriage, Joseph and Adolfine migrated to Germany. After only a year of waiting, they were again permitted to migrate, and this time to the Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, area. Most likely they entered the St. Lawrence waterway to Quebec, Canada and from there by rail to Edmonton, Alberta. Driven by the desire for a better way of life for their family, in 1919 they settled in the Yakima Valley of Washington State. Eleven children were born to Joseph and Adolfine Lange. Lydia was born in Germany; Edmund, Hugo, Otto, Arthur, Halmuth and Bernard in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Herbert, Ernest, Helen and Walter were born in the Yakima Valley. After several years of general farm labor and orchard rental, they established an orchard of their own on Scenic Drive in 1922. The original orchard property and home still belongs to a descendent of the Lange family, a son, Walter. Joseph Lange died in 1964. Adolfine (Arndt) Lange died in 1966. Both lie buried in Terrace Heights Memorial Park. The above article was submitted by their son, Bernard, on April 23, 1988. Most of the information was taken from Russian and German documents in the possession of Bernard Lange. [Interviewed by David Schoessler] -- LAPP In 1937, John Herman Lapp, his wife, Emma (Bender) and their three children, Lorentina, Esther and Milton came to the Yakima Valley from Eureka, South Dakota where they had farmed the land that was homesteaded by John's father, Johann Lapp, Jr. Johann Lapp, Jr. was born 16 Oct. 1865 in Gluckstal, South Russia. On 21 Nov. 1889, he married Augustine Wesch, who was born 17 Oct. 1867 in Hoffnungstal, Bessarabia, South Russia. Two sons were born to them in South Russia. When they were very young, Johann Lapp, Jr. was serving in the Russian military. Apparently, he was not too far away from home as he ran all the way home when he learned that his children were ill. By the time he got there, however, they had died. Johann and Augustine had been issued a permit to leave South Russia and although they were expecting another child, they feared if they waited until the child was born they would not be issued another permit so they sailed for their new homeland in 1893. John Herman Lapp was born 21 Apr. 1893 aboard ship and it was announced over the loudspeaker. They landed at Winnipeg, Canada 3 May 1893. Johann, Jr. stayed in Canada to work and Augustine went on the Ashley, North Dakota to stay with relatives or friends until Johann could join them. They lived in the Ashley area for about four years before moving to Eureka, South Dakota where they bought a farm for $28 an acre and homesteaded the adjoining land. This union produced eleven children. The first two, John and Adolph, died as youngsters in South Russia. John Herman was born enroute to the U.S., Magdalena, Martha and Mary (twins) and Adolph were born in North Dakota. William, Ted, Emelia and Jacob were born in South Dakota. In 1898 Johann, Jr. borrowed money and arranged for his father, Johann Lapp, Sr. and his second family to come to this country where they settled in North Dakota. Johann, Sr.'s first wife was Katharina Geist and they produced two children, Johann, Jr. and Magdalena (Graf). After Katharina's death, he married Rosina Walz in 1867. Their first two children died as infants in South Russia. They then had eight more children; Rosina, Christian, Katharina, Daniel, Phillip, Peter, Martin and Adam. John Herman Lapp married Emma Bender 26 Nov 1914 at Eureka, South Dakota. All three of their children were born in Eureka. John was a farmer and carpenter, like both his father and grandfather. In 1936 there was a terrible drought in the Midwest which resulted in their leaving the farm and moving West. They settled first at Wiley City and then moved to Yakima where John built a number of houses and also did remodeling. Like their forefathers, they were honest, hard-working, creative people. They inherited the determination and stamina to meet and cope with great obstacles and our country has benefited from such hardy individuals. John Herman Lapp died 9 Feb. 1978 in Yakima and Emma Lapp died 6 May 1977, also in Yakima. Their children are Mrs. Gerald (Lorentina) Bogart, who lives in Seattle; Mrs. George (Esther) Kauzlarich, also living in Seattle;; and Milton, residing in Yakima. Milton has been a self-employed home builder since 1952 and is now semi-retired. [Information by Gene (Mrs. Milton) Lapp- By Louise Potter] -- LAPP Martin, born December 8, 1891 in Gluckstal, South Russia, son of Johann Lapp, Sr. and Rosina Walz. He came to the U.S. with his parents and settled at Lincoln Valley, N.D. He was married on November 21, 1912 at Krem, North Dakota to Sophia Mittelsteadt, born November 4, 1893 in Krem, N.D. She was the daughter of Ferdinand Mittlesteadt and Rosina Lang. The children of Martin and Sophia were: Alvina Pauline, (infant death), Theodore, Hilda, Hertha, Martha, Arthur, Emanuel and Esther. They lived in North Dakota for years before moving to Idaho and eventually to Wapato, Wa., about 1935. Martin died February 2, 1968 in Yakima, and is buried at Wapato, Wa. At the time of Martin's death, the surviving children living in the Yakima Valley were: Theodore and Louetta Lapp, Wapato; Emanuel and Martha Lapp, Wapato; Hilda and Conrad Seibel, Wapato; Martha and Alex Ruff, Naches; and Hertha and David Seibel, Yakima. Sophia died February 20, 1957 at Wapato. [Information from Gene Lapp By Frieda Brulotte] -- LASS Pete married to Anna Spomer, both were born in Russia. They were early settlers in the Yakima Valley. Their daughter died and the records list her as born at Worland, Wyoming on September 19, 1923. She was married to Ernest Dohrman. She died April 27, 1947 and is buried in the Old Sunnyside Cemetery. [YVGS] -- LEBOLDUS Christina, wife of Peter Leboldus was born in Russia in 1884. She was the daughter of John Walyer of Yakima. They were early immigrants in the Yakima Valley. Not much is known about this family. Christina died on July 4, 1923 in Yakima. She left her parents, a sister, Mrs. Ben Crimm of Canada and a brother Sam Walyer of Yakima. This information was taken from the records of Shaw and Sons funeral home. [S&S] -- LECHNER My dad, Daniel Lechner was born in Gluckstal, Russia 19 Dec 1876. My father came to the United States when he was 12 years old, they dressed him like a girl otherwise they would not have been given permission for him to leave. A baby died on the ship and when the officials found out, they came and grabbed the baby off grandma's lap and took it away. The family settled in North Dakota, around Bismarck. Dad's parents were Daniel and Barbara (Vary) Lechner. My mother was Caroline Guthmiller. She was born 6 Nov. 1881 and was five years old when she came to the United States with her parents. They settled in South Dakota; Hosmer, Aberdeen and Roscoe. My mother's parents had six sons and two daughters. My dad came to Washington state because he didn't like the storms in North Dakota. A friend told him about the climate here so the family moved to Walla Walla, where the friend lived. The family left there in 1925 and went to Wapato for three years, then to Zillah in 1928. Dad was a farmer and the home place was on Cheyne Road, east of Zillah. Sometimes he worked out, sometimes he rented a place and worked it. There were three girls and six boys born to my parents. Those living at the time of dad's death were my brothers; Ruben, Floyd, Arnold, Edmond and Ben and my sister Martha and myself. Dad died in 1956, he was also survived by a brother John and two sisters, Rosina (Larson) and Katherine (Becker). My mother died in 1961, she had been born near Gluckstal. [Information by Emma (Lechner) Sheppard - By Louise Potter - CFH] -- LECHNER Daniel, born in Russia on December 19, 1876. He came to the U.S. in 1888 when he was 12 years of age. His family settled in North Dakota. He married Carolina Guthmiller, born in 1881. She was five years old when she and her family came to the U.S. They were married in North Dakota, where they lived until 1925. Then they moved to Walla Walla, Washington. In the fall of that year they came to Wapato, and in 1928 they moved to Zillah. September 27, 1956, David died. Caroline died on November 14, 1961. Born to them were: Martha on November 17, 1903 at Walla Walla, Wa.; Amiel on September 21, 1906, he died June 12, 1920; Emma was born on November 1, 1908, she married Leslie Buford; Reuben, born May 30, 1910; David, born November 5, 1913; Ben, born March, 1915; Floyd, born January 30, 1918; Arnold, born June 16, 1920 and Irene, born March 18, 1923. She died January 16, 1924. [Information from the History of Zillah - By Frieda Brulotte] -- LEHL Another early settler in the Yakima Valley was Conrad Lehl and his wife Amelia Christina (Schnell) Lehl. Conrad and Amelia were both born in Norka, Russia and arrived in the valley in 1917. Conrad was born March 17, 1870 and died at Toppenish December 31, 1957. Mrs. Lehl was born April 25, 1880 and died at Toppenish July 22, 1956. They had nine children: Bertha (Buzzard); Edward; Phillip; Carl; Fredrick; Conrad; Frances (Davis); Mildred (Warren), and Wayne. Mr. & Mrs. Lehl were married March 6, 1900 at Levitt, Nebraska. He was a laborer and a member of the IOOF. [CFH] -- LEHMAN Peter Lehman came from Stahl, Russia in 1905, landed in New York then moved to Sugar City, Colorado. Elizabeth Geringer came from Jablonorka, they called it "Laway" for short, Russia in 1902 and landed in New York, moving to Sugar City. They were married in 1907 in Sugar City and had eleven children; Katherine, Jake, George, Lydia, Helen, Adam, Mollie, Marie and Elsie, all born in Sugar City; Bill and Barbara were born in Nebraska. We moved to Sunnyside in 1937, July 24th. Peter Lehman was a Lay Minister, Elizabeth a housewife. The children worked in the fields wherever they could find work. [By the family] -- LEHMAN Peter, born in Russia in 1889. He came to the U.S. when he was a young man of 17 years of age. He settled in Colorado where he married Elizabeth Geringer. She was born in Jablonorka, Russia in 1889. She spent her early years in Russia. When she and her family came to the U.S. they settled in Colorado. In 1907 she and Peter Lehman were married. Both were living in Colorado. In 1937 they moved to Nebraska and from there farther west to Sunnyside, Washington. They lived and worked on the Roscoe Sheller ranch. Then in 1942 they moved to Outlook where they continued farming. Later Peter was employed at the Sunnyside Cannery and Mojonniers until retirement in 1957. They were members of Calvary Lutheran Church. Peter died October 18, 1969. Elizabeth lived to the age of 96. She passed away January 20, 1985. When Peter died he was survived by his wife, three sons and seven daughters, Jake of Scottsbluff, Ne.; Adam of Outlook; William of Sunnyside; Barbara Myers, Marie Kresse, Katherine Seder and Lydia Schanemen, all of Sunnyside; Helen Roth of Scottsbluff, Ne.; Mollie Nichols of Washougal and Elsie Bacon of Yakima. When Elizabeth died she was preceded by two daughters, Lydia Schaneman and Helen Roth also two sons. Services were held in the chapel of Smith Funeral Home of Sunnyside. Burial in the Lower Valley Memorial Gardens. [YHR] -- LEINGANG Antone Peter, son of Peter Leingang and Marian Martien. Peter and family immigrated to the U.S. in 1888; the children born to them in Russia were; Adam, Nick, John, Anna, Katie, Amelia, Marion, Eva and Clementine. On arrival in the U.S. they settled at St. Anthony, North Dakota. On February 22, 1894 their son Anthone was born. They were of the Catholic faith. Antone married Rosemary Fischer on August 23, 1927. She was the daughter of Dominick Fischer and Magdalena Pfoh. Rosemary was born in Dickinsen, N.D. on July 15, 1907. Both her parents were born in Salz, Russia in the Odessa area. With his family, Antone moved to Montana, where he farmed for a time. He also worked in the mines at Walkerville, Montana. They moved to the Yakima Valley in 1943. Antone worked first on a farm for Casper Schmidt at Harrah, Wa. He then worked at Hanford as a carpenter. They bought a house on 14th Street in Yakima. The children of Antone and Rosemary are; Dorothy Verona born January 18, 1931; Arthur Antone born April 6, 1932; Marvin born in 1934; Helen born in 1936; Eugene born in 1938; Robert born in 1940; Clarence in 1951, and Tom, date not known. Antone Sr. died March 21, 1961. His widow is living in a nursing home at this writing. [Information from Eugene Leingang and Dorothy C. Fischer, 1988 By Frieda Brulotte] -- LENHARDT Fred Lenhardt was born March 17, 1908 in Frank, Russia, the son of Conrad and Margaret (Koffman) Lenhardt. Mr. Lenhardt moved with his family as a small child, in 1913, to the United States. They first lived in Fruita, Colorado and then to Loveland, Colorado, where he attended schools. Fred married Marie Gettman on September 12, 1927 in Loveland. He and his wife moved to Wyoming in 1931 where he worked for the C&S Railroad. They returned to Loveland where he farmed until 1946 when they moved to a farm in Harrah. He then farmed at Toppenish until retiring in 1937. Mr. Lenhardt died Tuesday, June 12, 1990 in Yakima. He was survived by his wife, Marie, and one son, Wilbur of Toppenish; four daughters, Betty Crickon of Fontana, Cal; Lucille Clark of Corvallis, Or.; Barbara Baszler of Polson, Mt., and Sharon Lenhardt of Yakima. He was also survived by one brother, Harold of Loveland, Co. and one sister, Linda Walters of Portland, Or. He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, two brothers and one sister. He is buried in the Zillah Cemetery. Colonial Funeral Home was in charge of funeral arrangements. [YHR] -- LESSER Conrad was born in Frank, Saratov Russia on July 27, 1887. He married Katherine Woitt from the village Walter in 1905. Walter was within a few miles of Frank. Katherine was born in May 1886. The first child of this couple was Marie, born on March 21, 1906. They had a second child born in 1908. He was their son Conrad, also known as Cooney. During the early years of this marriage Conrad was drafted into the Russian Army. Just how many years he served is not known. After his return from serving in the army he took his family to America. To them was born another son, Frederick. When leaving Russia the family consisted of five members. The year was 1913. The tickets they had purchased for the trip were second class fare, but they were put in steerage nevertheless. This made the trip much more severe. They arrived at Ellis Island, New York. It was while they were at the emigrant center that the baby Frederick died, he was nine months old. The first place to locate was in Montana, where there were quite a number of German families. Most of them worked in the beet fields and farming. The children worked right along with the parents. Conrad moved his family to Odessa, Washington in 1915. Again they were among the Germans, many they knew in the "Old Country" some were relatives. In 1917 they were among the group to come to the Yakima Valley, traveling by train. One of the first farmers that the Lesser family worked for was Mr. Hale of Harrah, Wa. At that time they were of the Lutheran faith, and kept their membership in that church for a few years before becoming members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. Katherine became a member of the Ladies Society, and later the Pilgrim Daughters. The Lesser's acquired land for themselves and made their living by farming. On their retirement they moved into the town of Wapato. Katherine contracted a serious illness and went through some very trying times. She died in 1959 at the age of 73. Conrad lived to the age of 94. He died September, 1981. To Conrad and Katherine were born six children in the U.S.: Henry born Sept. 9, 1915 in Billings, Montana; Alfred in 1917 in the Yakima Valley; Arthur also in the Yakima Valley in 1919; Martha in the family home on Jones Road, located near Wapato, February 18, 1921; Esther, at the same home in 1923; William, known as Sonny, born in Wapato on May 14, 1929. The Lesser's are both buried in the Reservation Community Memorial Park, located a few miles west of Wapato. [Information from Marie (Lesser) Arnold - By Frieda Brulotte] -- LICHTENBERG My husband's parents were from Walter, Russia. His father's name was Johann Lichtenberg and his mother was Catherine (Amen) Lichtenberg. His mother's parents were Jacob Amend and Anna Deeds. (The Lichtenberg name was changed from Lichtenberger). They had five children who were born in Russia. Before coming to Washington state they lived in Nebraska, Montana and Idaho. They settled in Walla Walla where Jacob was born in 1903. A year after Jacob was born, his father died and a year later his mother married George Michaelis. In 1924, my husband, Jake, joined the Army and was stationed in San Francisco at The Presidio, entering the service under the name of his step-father, Michaelis. My husband's sister and I were very good friends and that is how Jake and I met. When Jake decided he wanted to get married and settle down, he paid $150.00 and bought his way out of the service, which was a common practice. In 1926 we were married and had seven children all born in Toppenish, six of whom are still living, all girls except the one that passed away. Betty Joyce (Balmer), Lois Lorraine (Widmyer), Marlene Helen (Rouiller), Geraldine Mae (Gonzales), Jacqueline June (Boyles), and Carol Ann (Meyers). They all graduated from Toppenish High School. We farmed west of Toppenish. I am a Charter member of the Toppenish Lutheran Church, in 1932. The first church as on F Street, a house; then it was held in the Masonic Temple and then in a little white church that used to be the Methodist Church. When the Methodists built a new church, they moved the previous one. I remember the flood that year, it was right at Christmas time and we couldn't have our Christmas program as it was all flooded on that side of the tracks. I was Confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Wapato in 1924. For awhile, I went to the Evangelical Church by Olney Park in Toppenish. Some of the people that went were the Besels, the Millers, Mrs. Michaelis, my dad, Jacob Gomer, and quite a few others. The minister who was there was the same minister we had in Colorado. The Charter members of our church were the Kukes, the Comers, the Roths, the Jacks and the Bushmans. It started as an Indian mission, the minister that was there was named Geiswinkler, and later on he had the church in his home; he was instrumental in the building of the first church at the present site of the Faith Lutheran Church. Most of the money came from the mission program of the church. The church recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary. The children of Johann and Catherine Lichtenberg were: John, Katie, Jake and Lillian. The children of George and Catherine (Lichtenberg) Michaelis were Rose, Millie, Dorothy, Helen, William, Carl, Fred, George and Allen. George Michaelis was born October 20, 1878 in Russia and died October 2, 1960 at Toppenish. Catherine Michaelis was born September 15, 1879 at Walter, Russia and died November 25, 1967 at Toppenish. She had lived in Toppenish 50 years and was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church. Mr. Michaelis was a laborer. [CFH/by Lydia Gomer Lichtenberg Tyacke Interview by Louise Potter] -- LIEBHOLZ Adolph, son of Karl Adolph Liebholz and Rosala Kibsch, was born in Volhynia, Russia on October 19, 1859. In 1883, he married Wilhelmine. She was born in Volhynia July 15, 1863. Their children were born under the Russian government of Ossaka Fruz Lutz, Volhynia. The story of this family can be told from the obituary of a daughter, Bertha, she lived to the age of 100. Bertha was born December 7, 1888 in Ossaka Kruz Lutz. The family moved to the village, Bresalup, Russia where Bertha received her education. During World War 1, in 1916, the family was driven from their home in Russia to Germany. In 1922, an uncle in the United States sponsored the family for emigration from Kerstupen, East Prussia Germany to the U.S. Bertha and her two year old son, Otto came along with her parents, three brothers and two sisters. The oldest sister, Mrs. Martin (Pauline) remained in Germany. The families arrived in Yakima in June, 1922. In Yakima they became members of the Grace Lutheran Church. The sermons at that time were given in German and English by Pastor Soll. Adolph died in his home of heart failure on May 18, 1923. A son, Roy Liebholz, born in Russia on November 17, 1906, served in Alaska as a Pvt. in the 42nd Engineers during World War II. He died in Alaska on August 26, 1946. He had lived in Alaska for 15 years. He is buried in Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima. Bertha, married George Ditter. He died in 1961. Her son, Otto, died in 1938. Also preceding her were sister, Pauline Hartkey, brothers, Ewald and Theodore. Two sisters are living in Yakima, Mrs. Evelyn Karr and Mrs. Emil Kasch. Wilhelmina, her mother is buried in Tahoma Cemetery. [YHR] -- LIEBRECHT Henry was born in Brunnental, Russia on December 11, 1902. When they immigrated to the U.S. is not known. He had been a resident of Wapato for many years, where he farmed for a living. Later he was a Wapato city employee. He with family were members of the Hope Lutheran Church. Henry died January 27, 1972. He was survived by his wife, Emily, five sons, four daughters, four brothers and one sister. Henry married Judith Fried, Ted married Helen Rossol. Other sons were Herman, Gary and Jerry. Daughters, Freda married Fred Calahan, Edna married Ernest Duncan, Irene married Ervey Hoyt and Marjorie married Marion Williams. His four brothers were; Adam, Solomon, Paul and Edwin all of Canada. His sister was Mrs. Alex (Eva) Leis of Canada. A grandson, Larry, drowned in the Roza Canal at the age or 19. He was the son of Ted Liebrecht. Merritt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements for both Henry and his grandson, Larry. [YHR - Wapato Independent] -- LILJANDER John, listed in the Yakima County 1900 census as born in Russia (44) 1856. He came to Yakima as a single man. He was an engineer. His parents were shown as his mother born in Russia and his father, in Germany. In 1874 he became a naturalized citizen. [1900 Yakima County Census] -- LIND Jacob, born in Neu Donnhof, Russia on August 27, 1877. He was the son of William Lind and Barbara Liehner. He married Mary Loringle. She was born on October 27, 1879 in Russia. They came to the U.S. in 1901 and they settled first in the state of Iowa. After some time they moved to Kansas. From Kansas they moved to the west coast of the state of Washington, settled in Tacoma and Seattle. In 1917 they moved to the Yakima Valley. Jacob worked mostly for the railroads. He met with an accident while at work by coming into contact with live electrical wiring and was killed instantly on September 2, 1918. He was survived by his wife and three sons and one daughter. His sons are, Jacob, Emmanuel and William. His daughter is Mrs. F.G. Brewer. His son, William, resides in Yakima. He was born in 1906. His first marriage was to Minnie, she is now deceased. Jacob and Mary had been members of Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. Mary died on October 16, 1942 while living in Seattle. Shaw and Sons officiating. She is buried in the Tahoma Cemetery. [Limited information from William Lind - By Frieda Brulotte -- LINGER John, born in Brunnental, Russia in 1875. He was the son of Jacob Linger. He married Marie Becker in Russia. She was born in 1893. They came to the U.S. in 1900, and have lived in the Yakima area since 1925. He worked as a laborer and did farming. He suffered from diabetes. He had a stroke and died June 15, 1942. He was survived by his wife, three sons; Henry, John and Alex; three daughters, Mrs. George Heimbigner, Mrs. Henry Becker and Mrs. Ralph Barset. Also three sisters and one brother, Pete. He and Pete were married to sisters. Two sons preceded him in death. He was a member of a Lutheran Church. [YVGS] -- LINGER Peter (Pete) was born in Brunnental, Russia on February 6, 1888. He was the son of Jacob (Jack) Linger. They immigrated to America, arriving at Boston Harbor, Mass., on November 15, 1907. They were aboard the S.S. Soxonia. They were routed through Liverpool, England. Ritzville, Wa. was the first place they settled and where Pete worked for the farmers, the primary crop was wheat as the area was all dry farming. At Ritzville he met Katherine Becker. She was the daughter of Michael Becker and Katherine Leopolz. Katherine was born in Brunnental, Russia, on November 10, 1890. They were married September 10, 1909 at Ritzville. Their son Henry was born June 15, 1910. They left Ritzville and moved to Portland, Oregon, living there until 1915 when they moved to the Yakima Valley. They first settled in the Moxee area. Pete worked as a laborer mostly for farmers. He retired in 1957. They were members of Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. They both became naturalized citizens. Linger is the original spelling of their name. Some relatives have changed it to Linker. Born to them while they lived in Portland were; Esther, born February 25, 1912 at St. John's, she married Joseph Desmarias of Moxee, Wa.; William, born at St. Johns on August 18, 1913, he married Faye Jones of Moxee. They moved back to Ritzville for the years of 1915 to 1921, during which time two more children were born; Theodore, August 24, 1916, he married Victoria; Pauline, born September 12, 1919, she married Charles Masterson; Pete, died December 14, 1966 at Yakima, Wa. Katherine died February 25, 1975 in Yakima. Both are buried in West Hills Memorial Park, located west of Yakima. [Information from Pauline Masterson, 1988- By Frieda Brulotte] -- LINKER Catherine Linker was born in Russia February 17, 1870. She died June 3, 1953, having lived in the Toppenish area for 18 years. At the time of her death she was survived by four children, Mary Hettich, Catherine Backmeier, Conrad Linker and John Linker. [CFH] -- LINKER Conrad and Catherine Linker Family. Their story as written by Frances Hettich Asker and her aunt, Katherine Linker Bachmeier. "We have tried to remember our family history. Aunt Katherine remembers dates and we compared our history. She recollects things as a young woman growing up in this era, and I remember things from my childhood by being underfoot and by helping and listening to my elders talk about life. We hope our relatives will understand if we have left something out. It was exciting and sad going into our memories. Conrad Linker born April 20, 1870, died November 24, 1932. Catherina Loos Linker, born February 17, 1871, died June 3, 1953. They were both born in Brunnental, Russia. They emigrated from Libau, Russia, September, 1907. Listed on the passport is Conrad, (Jr.) Heinrick (Henri), Marie, Anna Mary (Mary), my grandfather's mother, Marguerite. They arrived in the United States on November 18, 1907 in Detroit, Michigan. My grandmother, Catherina was pregnant with John who was born in Portland, Oregon. My grandfather was 12 years old when his father died. He became the head of the family. His three sisters and their husbands eventually left Russia for USA, Portland, Oregon. The sisters were Mrs. Hergert, Mrs. Baum and Mrs. Melcher. They wrote such wonderful letters about how great the USA was and enticed their brother and family to come. It was hard for my grandmother Catherina. She left all of her family in Russia. She eventually found the Adam Miller family in Wapato, Washington who's sister was married to my grandmother's brother. She never received letters but she heard about her family through Mrs. Miller. My grandmother had many children. Three died in one week in a diphtheria epidemic in Portland, Oregon, twin girls and a son. Three girls had died in Russia. My grandmother was almost five feet tall and for as long as I can remember, had white blonde hair in a bun in back. She was a strong, practical woman. John was born shortly after they arrived Jan. 4, 1907. Katherine was born in 1915 in Portland, Oregon. I'm sure that you realize that the people I've mentioned didn't speak or read English. They lived in the part of Portland together as all emigrants do. They soon learned how to survive in the new country and overcame the greenhorn stigma. Mrs. Hergert's husband had a saloon and eventually had a German meat market. Mr. Melcher worked for the city of Portland where Conrad Linker got a job working underground. He became ill working underground and developed bad lungs. He was sent with his family to Colorado and Wyoming to work in the sugar beet fields. My mother had terrible memories of housing and water and sewer conditions. While they were in Wyoming, my uncle John, age 8, found some dynamite caps and blew off his fingers. The closest hospital was in Lincoln, Nebraska. My grandmother took him there on the train. She didn't speak any English and had an 8 year old child translate for 6 weeks. The German-Russian children were not allowed in the regular school, and their school was separate. My mother loved school and was very active in her own children's education. In 1918 grandfather brought his family to Moxee, Washington to a farm. They raised sugar beets for U and I Sugar company. They moved to Harrah in 1921 and farmed sugar beets, wheat, hay and had dairy cows and milk to sell. They moved to Grandview, Wa. in 1927. They had a prune and apple orchard and dairy cows for milk. My grandfather died of cancer in 1932. After his death, in 1933, the family moved to Harrah and raised potatoes, hay and dairy cows. My grandmother continued to live with her two sons and daughter. In 1940 Catherina moved to Toppenish, Wa. and lived with her daughter, Mary. She died June 3, 1953. Her children were; Henri, who died from a lengthy illness at the age of 24 on February 14, 1927; John, who died March 11, 1971; Conrad, who died March 27, 1979; and Mary, who died June 12, 1983. In 1920, Conrad Jr. married Irene and had three children; Ed, Harry and Joyce. They lived on the farm with my grandparents. Katherine married Adam Bachmeier in 1936 and had two children, Carol and Ed. They live on a farm near Wapato, Wa., and raise fruits and wheat with their son Ed. John was married to Viola in 1943, and had two stepchildren; Patti and Ruth Ann and five children; John Jr., Max, Marilyn, Freddie and Vickie. My mother married Christian Hettich on November 16, 1928. They had five children; Frances born 1930; Alvin, 1932-1937 (died of spinal meningitis); Marvin born December 1, 1935, died December 5, 1935 of pneumonia; Gerald born August 16, 1937, died March 16, 1987; Marjorie, born December 28, 1946. My father, Christian, worked all over the Yakima Valley in field work. In Prosser he worked for Henacker's chicken ranch. I remember Campbell's hop farm at Wapato and living in the cabin. We moved to Toppenish in 1935. Dad worked at the Yakima Golden Farm and ran a hop kiln at night. My mother and I picked hops by the pound. She also worked on the hop machine when they were built. When I was 11 years old I remember working in the hop fields. I walked in front of a truck and cut the hop vines and it would catch and get into the truck. I worked full days without any supervision from my parents. My father worked at McDonald's slaughter house shaking hides and killing cows. He also worked at Schaakes slaughter house doing the same work. He worked as a Gandie dancer for the Northern Pacific Railroad. He eventually went to work at the U and I Sugar Company and worked there until he retired. He then helped put in vineyards in the lower valley. I remember getting on a truck with other kids in the neighborhood and picking beans and peas and asparagus. I worked sorting cherries at Stadelmans and later worked nights at Stokleys frozen food plant. When I was 15 years old I became a janitor at the Oregon Washington Telephone Company in Toppenish, Wa. The following summer I was hired as a telephone operator and after I graduated from high school, I worked in the office for 12 years. I started working there when I was a sophomore. All the time I had worked in the fields I had dreamed of getting an education and finding a job, that I could have nice clothes and be clean. A lot of my education came from the people I worked with and type of jobs I had. My brother Gerald, worked as a teenager for Mount Arbor Nursery in the summer. After graduating from High School he joined the Air Force. He was a police officer for the city of Toppenish for 15 years. He married Maidie, they have three children; Stacie, Vincent and Mary (deceased). My sister Marjorie, worked at the Migrant Workers Office in Toppenish after graduating from Yakima Business School. She later graduated from the University of Washington and lives with her husband Walt, in New York State. She is employed by Vassar College. I married John Asker in January 1959 and have two children; Barbara and David, and one very new grandddaughter, Rachel. We live in Soap Lake, Wa. where we have a store. My father became an American citizen by the Dakota Homestead Act. His father homesteaded in Dakota and qualified his children to become citizens. My mother went to citizenship classes at night at the Toppenish High School. She was naturalized an American in Yakima by Governor Mon Walgren and she always said 'this is the hand that shook the Governor's hand'. Both my parents were very proud to be citizens of the United States of America. They showed all of us by example that sharing and helping and listening to other people when they were in need were the most important things in life. It wasn't important how much money someone had, or what church they attended or what the color of their skin was, it was the person that mattered and we will never forget the lesson they lived." -- LINKER George D. Linker and Catherine M. (Walters) Linker were both born in Russia and lived in the Prosser area. Their daughter, Gertrude, was born at Ritzville, Washington November 30, 1917 and died at Prosser September 1, 1921. [MM] -- LINKER Johann George, born in Russia April 23, 1870. His wife Mary Elizabeth was also born in Russia on October 10, 1887. She died January 10, 1924. She was the daughter of Jacob Rommel. Her infant, Aleas Leland was born September 20, 1923 and died May 14, 1924. Mary is buried in the Old Sunnyside Cemetery. Johann G. remarried, his second wife was Elliney Jane. She was born January 16, 1866 and died January 3, 1957. He died September 13, 1955 and is buried in the Old Sunnyside Cemetery. [YVGS/MM] -- LITZENBERG/LITZENBERGER Alexander, son of John and Mary Litzenberger, was born in Schoenfeld, Russia on July 21, 1884. He married Anna M. Wagner and lived there for a few years after marriage. While in Russia they became parents to three daughters. They emigrated from Russia arriving at St. John, Canada. Anna became very ill on the trip and died shortly after they arrived. Alexander had two brothers, David and Phillip. Phillip came to the U.S. in 1908, while David stayed in Russia. Alexander left Canada in 1908 with his three daughters and settled at Endicott, Wa. He gave up his daughters for adoption and at the time dropped the last syllable from his name making it Litzenberg. The names of his daughters were, Mary, Anna and Elizabeth. He next made a move to Portland, Oregon. There he found work for the city. He remarried and to this marriage was born a son, named Albert. Albert died at the early age of 18. The name of this wife is not known nor the loss of this second wife. In the spring of 1912 he and Anna Marie nee Gettman Harding were married. She was born April 28, 1890 at Schoenfeld, Russia. Her father was Jacob Gettman, born in Schoenfeld on July 21, 1845. Anna's mother was Barbara Hoffman, born in Schoenfeld on December 5, 1847. Anna had two sisters, Anna Margaret and Mabel also two brothers, Jacob and Henry. From her first marriage, to Henry Harding, she had three children, Frieda, born September 3, 1910 at Grand Island, Nebraska; Esther (no birth date) and son Emanuel. He died at a young age. While living at Portland three children were born to them. Lydia, November 6, 1913; Alexander, June 20, 1915; and Lillian, February 17, 1917. Between 1917 and 1918 they moved to the Yakima Valley settling first in the Moxee area where they farmed. They next moved to the lower Valley and farmed near Wapato, Wa. They joined the German Pilgrim Congregational Church, and Anna was a member of the Ladies Aid Society of the church. The children born to them during the years in the valley were; Elsie, born Sept. 27, 1918, she married Amos Gamache; Frances, born June 29, 1920, she married Floyd Glidewell; Katherina Elizabeth, born August 7, 1921, she married William Stewart; Walter, born Aug. 20, 1922, he married Martha Moser; Wilma Jean, born Jan. 23, 1924. She married Harold Young; Nina May, born Nov. 25, 1925, she married George Geroux; Donald Lloyd, born Feb. 8, 1931, he married Connie Selak; Daniel Wilhelm, Jan. 14, 1933, he married Georgia ?; Orville, born Nov. 19, 1936, he married Patricia J. Sorenson - 2nd marriage to Marilyn Verstrom Kinney; Lydia, born Nov. 3, 1913, she married Wesley Calahan; Alexander, born June 20, 1915, he married Neomi Leana Beaudry; Lillian, born Feb. 17, 1917, she married Frank Wimer; Frieda Harding, married Roy Kinsfather; and Esther, married Merrill W. Leighton. Alex's daughters from his first marriage are listed here; Mary, married George Getz; Anna, married Arthur Carstens; and Elizabeth, married to ? Blumlenschein. Both Mr. and Mrs. Litzenberg lived out their lives in the Yakima Valley. Alexander died on June 3, 1957 and Anna, who survived him by many years died January 30, 1972. Both are interred in the Reservation Community Memorial Park, located several miles west of Wapato, Wa. [Information from Lydia Calahan By Frieda Brulotte] -- LUFT John, was born in Russia on September 15, 1863. He was the son of Adam Luft and Catherine Schmich. He married Marie Catherine Fox, she was a daughter of John Fox, and was born on February 1, 1868. John and Marie were married in Russia, and immigrated to the U.S. in 1898 to New York, they lived there briefly . They then moved to the Yakima Valley. They bought some acreage at Harrah, Wa. and planted it to orchard. The children born to them were; Adam, born in Russia, July 3, 1891, he died August 15, 1944, he was single; John Jr., born in Russia, July 9, 1894, he died April 7, 1979, at the age of 84. He was a veteran of World War I, and was a member of the Veteran's of Foreign Wars and The American Legion. Conrad, born December 15, 1898 (perhaps in New York). He was also a veteran of WWI of Washington, PVT 15 Cavalry. He died November 24, 1936. Daniel P., born June 16, 1904, in the Yakima Valley. He died June 20, 1960 and is buried in Terrace Heights Memorial Park in Yakima. Manuel, birth date not known, died December 26, 1961. Mathilda, born in 1901 in the Yakima Valley area. She married Thomas Jensen, both are deceased. John Luft, Sr., died December 31, 1931 at the age of 68. Marie lived at home at Harrah until she died on April 11, 1951. Both are buried in the Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima. [MFH/YHR] -- LUKENBACH Max W. was born in Fredericksburg, Texas on July 20, 1869. His wife, Mary Elizabeth Kanzler, was born in Russia, December 5, 1868. Max served in the U.S. military as a Pvt. in the Hospital Corps. He died August 31, 1952. His wife, Mary, died at the age of 79 on December 5, 1968. Both are buried in the Tahoma Cemetery at Yakima. Obituary records show that three sons had died; Victor died at age 13 on September 25, 1928; Alvin on September 23, 1928; and Lloyd at age 14 on October 12, 1941. [YVGS] -- LUST Adam, was born July 25, 1904 at Schontal, Russia. He came to the U.S. at age 6 (1910). It is not known where the lived prior to moving to Yakima in 1926. He married Mary O. Purviance on November 10, 1928. She was born in Yakima, April 16, 1911 to Frank Purviance and Anna O. Scouller. She attended Armstrong School and Yakima High School. Adam worked for Gilbert Orchards for 36 years until his retirement. Mrs. Lust packed apples for many years also working for Gilbert Orchards until her retirement. They were the parents of three sons; Harold of Yakima; Pete and George both of Westaskiwin, Canada; and two grandsons. A sister, Mrs. Mary Litzenberger of Westaskiwin, Canada. Adam died April 23, 1977 and Mary O. in August, 1987. [LMFH/YHR] -- LUTTHANS Matie (Mrs.) was born in Southern Russia where her German parents lived and her father was a gardener. They came to the U.S. when she was 2 1/2 years of age, first living in Nebraska. Her family came to Washington five years later in 1910. She and Malt Lutthans were married. They came to the Wenas in 1911, then to Wide Hollow in 1918, where they farmed. She was a member of the First Baptist Church. Matt died in 1959, she on January 8, 1971 at the age of 93. Her survivors were a daughter, Mrs. V. Mearl (Anita) Glenn, a son, Vernon Lutthans, both of Yakima; four grandchildren and seven great- grandchildren. Keith and Keith Funeral Home in charge of funeral arrangements. [YHR] -- MAIER Jacob, son Christoff Maier and Elizabeth Graman. He was born in Russia November 1, 1866. His wife, Katherina Dollinger was born in Gluckstahl, Russia on April 29, 1873; her parents were Phillip Dollinger and Barbara Rott. They were members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Jacob lived to the age of 80, he died August 21, 1946, and Katherine died May 19, 1969. They are both interred in the Reservation Community Memorial Park, west of Wapato. [MFH] -- MALING George, born in Russia May 12, 1871. He was the son of Phillip Maling, and Grace Fromm, both born in Russia. His wife, Anna Rummell was also born in Russia on March 14, 1877. They came to the Yakima Valley in the early 1900s. Mr. Mating died March 16, 1941. His wife, Anna, died August 10, 1964. They had a daughter, Elsie, who was married on October 14, 1922 to George Kaiser (this was according to the Hope Lutheran Church records). Their residence was listed as Sunnyside. A son of George and Anna Mailling was listed in the obituary records. Victor, born August 4, 1913, at Boise, Idaho. He moved with his parents in 1922 to Sunnyside, where he received his education. Victor married Pauline Wilson, he had served in the U.S. Army. Following his military service he made his home at Sunnyside until his death on May 9, 1989. His survivors were one daughter and three sons. He also left two sisters, Elsie Kaiser of Sunnyside and Caroline McDaniel of Bremerton. He was preceded in death by seven brothers and three sisters and his parents. [YHR/MM] -- MANDA Conrad, born in Russia in 1875. He married Elizabeth Homann. She was born on October 8, 1876 in the "Volga" region of Russia. She and Conrad were married in 1898 in Russia and immigrated to Canada that same year. They came to the U.S. in 1903 and moved to the Yakima Valley in 1920. Elizabeth was ill for many years, she died April 30, 1960. Conrad died in 1954. They had been members of Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. Their occupation was not known. Survivors were three sons and two daughters. [GLC] -- MARTIN George and Anna Martin were from Russia. Anna was born at Oberdorf, Russia to Alex and Charolet Earhardt, December 10, 1892. George Martin was the son of Fredrick and Elizabeth (Ruff) Martin. He was born August 1, 1888. At the time of his death in July of 1955, he had lived in the valley 16 years. They were the parents of six children: Rose (Frank); Leona (Ware); Rachel (Koch); and Reuben, Elmer and Jerry Martin. Anna emigrated with her family in the early 1900s, going first to Calgary, Alberta and then to Windsor, Colorado. She married George Martin January 11, 1911. The couple moved to Portland, Oregon in 1933, to Sunnyside in 1939 and to Toppenish in 1942. [CFH] -- MARTIN Jacob Martin and Amelia Lorenz were married in Russia, March 1O, 1910. Jacob was born there October 15, 1890 and Amelia July 4, 1892. They left Liverpool January 16, 1913, on the ship Dominion Exchange 3, landing in Portland, Maine January 26, 1913. After working in shipyards there, they moved to St. Johns, Oregon, near Portland, about 1917, where they joined other members of their families. Wanting to get into farming, they moved to the Yakima Valley, coming to Sunnyside around 1918. One daughter was born in St. Johns. They retired from farming in 1943, moving back to Portland where they both worked in the shipyards. Later, due to failing health, they returned to Sunnyside where they lived until their passing, Mr. Martin in August of 1969 and Mrs. Martin in July of 1979. Five daughters and two sons were born in Sunnyside, one son died in 1924. [By the family] -- MASSETT My dad, John Massett, came to the United States from Odessa, Russia with his parents in 1896. He was born Oct 17, 1881 to Lawrence and Catherine (Birtch) Massett. They went to Linton, North Dakota and then, when land opened up at Selfridge, ND, we moved there. Dad was a wheat farmer and farmed there for 33 years before moving to Belle Fourche, SD and worked for the U & I Sugar Company and did farm work. There wasn't enough work so we moved to the Yakima Valley where a lot of the North Dakota people had moved, that was in 1938. We went first to Billings, Montana before coming to the valley, that is where dad got his citizenship. He worked for Golding Farms and then for Del Monte (Cal Pack) and the U & I Sugar Company. This worked out perfectly for a lot of the fellows as Del Monte ran half a year and the sugar company the other half. My mother's folks were Karl and Josephine (Steiner) Bachmeier, my mother was Aurora Bachmeier and she was born in Odessa, R. in 1885. Her family went back to Germany before going to the United States. My folks met and were married in North Dakota. My dad had six brothers, Joseph, Peter, Stanley, Lawrence, Ferdinand and Anton. He also had two older sisters who stayed in Russia as they were married and had families. The folks heard from them occasionally, however, they never saw them again. My folks had five children: Ann (Girtch); John; Mary (Trebilcock); myself (Charles); and Kathryn (Haeger). They were members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church and are buried in Zillah Cemetery. My dad loved music, dancing, and fishing. [Information by Charles Massett By Louise Potter - CFH] -- MASTEL Balthasar Mastel and his wife, Elizabeth Wingarter came to the United States in 1904 first settling in the Ritzville area. Elizabeth was the daughter of Kasimir and Katharina (Garman) Wingerter and was born in 1863 probably at Elsass, Ukraine, Russia. Balthasar was born in Russia in 1861. They moved to Aberdeen, Washington where he worked in the fish cannery before coming to the valley and settling in Germantown. Mr. Mastel died in 1925 at Toppenish and Mrs. Mastel in 1939. They were members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church and are buried in Elmwood Cemetery, he was a laborer. Their four children were born in Elsass, Ukraine, Russia: Philomena (Mrs. Frank Kirkoffner); Leonard, who married Magdalena Holzenbiler; Katherine (Katie) and Marie Kay (Mrs. Dan Andreas). [Information from Barbara Wingardner Toop, Thelma L. Wingardner and Hilda Barthlow - By Louise Potter] -- MASTEL Catherine M. (Katie) Mastel was born in Odessa, Russia, the daughter of Balthasar and Elizabeth (Wingardner) Mastel. In 1904 she came to the United States with her parents, to Westport, Washington. In 1910, the family moved to the Yakima Valley and she lived most of her life in the Germantown area. Miss Mastel worked at various jobs in the valley, lastly working in the fruit packing. She retired in 1978. She was a member of St. Aloysius Church in Toppenish and Altar Guild, former member of St. Catherine's Guild. Born December 25, 1898, she died December 3, 1985 at Toppenish. She was survived by a sister, Marie Andreas. [CFH] -- MASTEL Leonard J. Mastel lived in the Toppenish area for 46 years prior to his death in 1956 having worked many years as a nurseryman for Washington Nursery. He and his family came to the United States in 1904, first living in the Ritzville area and then moving to the Yakima Valley in about 1907. On Valentine's Day, February 14, 1933, he married Magdalena Holzenbiler and they lived in the Germantown area. At the time of his death, he was survived by three children, Mary Frances (Solis), Marvin Mastel and Donald Mastel. They were members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church. Mr. Mastel was born in Elsass, Ukraine, Russia in 1896, the son of Balzer (Balthasar) and Elizabeth (Wingardner) Mastel. He was also survived by three sisters, Philomena (Kirkoffner), Katherine Mastel, and Marie (Andreas). [Information by Barbara Wingardner Toop - By Louise Potter - CFH] -- MASTEL Our family lived in Germantown. We moved there about 1927 and lived there three years or so. Mother's name was Maria Josefa (Marsefa) (Mary) Dies and dad's name was Peter Mastel. We lived by Gross's, and across the street from Garmen's. My sister, Emma (Roundtree) was twelve years old when we left the area. Dad was born in Russia in 1888 and came to the United States in 1913. His father's name was Peter also. [by Frances (Master) Fairfield] -- MASTEL Sebastian Joseph, born on August 5, 1902 at Odessa, Russia to Tony Mastel and Elizabeth Feldman. He moved to the Yakima Valley in 1916. In 1946 he married Leeta "Bernice" Badgley. He had been a lumber grader for Boise Cascade Corp. His wife preceded him in death. She died on August 17, 1958. Sebastian died in his home January 25, 1988. Private family committal services were held in Terrace Heights Memorial Park. Survivors included a daughter, Kay Causey of Yakima; a son, Ben Creasy of Union Gap; two sisters, Frances Siekawitch and Katie Walyer, both of Yakima; and a brother, Andrew Mastel of Yakima. A brother, Caspar Mastel, born in Russia in 1895, was married to Lavina Hentz on January 3, 1920. She was the daughter of Frank Hentz and Anna Wagman. She was born in 1900. Another brother, Ben Mastel, preceded Sebastian. [YHR] -- MAUCH August Mauch, brother of Jacob Mauch, was also born in Russia, October 25, 1881. He was the son of John and Eva (Dekler) Mauch. He also had a brother John and three sisters, Pauline Hirsch, Christine Kuitz, and Katherine Schell. Mr. Mauch was a blacksmith. He was survived by his wife, Caroline, two sons, Alfred and August, Jr., and three daughters; Amelia Shock, Ruth Mauch and Lydia Rodacker. Also two step-sons, Frank and Robert Derrickson. He was a member of the Church of God Seventh Day. He died in 1958 at Toppenish. [CFH] -- MAUCH Jacob Mauch was my great-grandfather. He was born in Russia in 1882. He married my great-grandmother in 1909 in North Dakota. She was born in Odessa, Russia. They moved to the Yakima Valley in 1937. He did farm work here. They lived at Belle Fourche, South Dakota before coming to the valley. They had eight children; Samuel, David, Jake (my grandfather), Ronald, Arthur, Ben, Alvina (Moser) and Reuben. He passed away in 1945 and she married Anton Servo in 1946. She died at Toppenish in 1981. Jacob Mauch was the son of John and Eva (Dilger) Mauch. Mr. Mauch married Emma Wacker, daughter of Jacob & Christina (Hust) Wacker, who was born June 27, 1891. Mr. Mauch had two brothers, John and August and three sisters, Pauline Hirsch, Christine Kuitz and Katherine Schell. Mrs. Mauch had three sisters, Bertha Brown, Linda Dockter and Frieda Malmin. They were members of the Faith Lutheran Church in Toppenish, buried at Elmwood Cemetery. [Information from Curt Mauch - By Louise Potter - CFH] -- MAYER Rebecca, born in Constantia, Romania on August 22, 1892. She was the daughter of John Stach and Caroline Schedske. Her husband had preceded her and no information is available on him. She was a member of the Community Presbyterian Church in Wapato. She died at the age of 74, July 11, 1967. Her survivors were two sons, Fred and Herb Mayer, and a daughter Mrs. Walter Calahan. She had lived in the Yakima Valley since 1931. [This limited article was in the Wapato Independent Newspaper. - WID] -- McMILLEN Elizabeth Reichert McMillen, wife of George L. McMillen, died October 21, 1936, at Prosser. She was the daughter of David Reichert and Kathern Kendel, who were both born in Russia. Elizabeth was born January 3, 1911. [MM] --MEHRER Charles (Charley), was born in Bessarabia, Romania in 1900. He was six years old when he with his parents came to the United States, settling in New Leipzig, N.D. This is where he spent his early years and received his education. He came west in 1937, settling at Prosser, where he was employed by the Hanford project, the Prosser Experimental Station and also for the Gannon Hop Ranch. In 1955 he married Emma McLean at Grandview, Wa. Together they made their home in Grandview, where he was employed by Andrew Equipment Co., until retirement. They were members of Wandering Sams Good Sam Club, and the Senior Citizens Golden Age Club. He passed away June 2O, 1983. Survived by wife, Emma; a son Harold of Kirkland, Wa.; two daughters, Edna Case and Mrs. Vivian Pollock of Bothell; a step daughter, Doris Saltline of Colorado; two brothers, Harry and Ben of Grandview. Emma married William H. Neumeister on February 21, 1984. He was born September 1, 1903 in Holly, Colorado. He was the son of Wm. Neumeister and Sara Garhardt, his first wife, Gladys, died in April 1982. William worked for the West Valley School District for eight years as custodian. He was a 50 year member and past Master of Ahtanum Grange. He died December 27, 1988, and is buried in West Hills Memorial Park. [YHR] -- MEHRER Jacob, born in Romania. His early history is not known. His wife, Emelia Zimmerman was born July 20, 1897 in Romania/Bessarabia. She came to the U.S. with her parents settling in North Dakota. She and Jacob were married in 1915. In 1936 they moved from North Dakota to Prosser, Wa., where he worked as a carpenter. He died in 1971. In 1974 Emelia moved to Ellensburg, Wa. to be near family members. She had been a long time member of the Seventh Day Church of God. Emelia died July 15, 1980. Survivors include a daughter Esther Bishop of Auburn; four sons, Victor of Moxee, Wa.; Ed of Ellensburg; Ted and Elvin both of Seattle. A sister Rosa Schatz of Hettinger, N.D. and a brother, John Zimmerman of Prosser. Smith Funeral Home of Grandview in charge of funeral arrangements. [YHR] -- MEIER Anton Meier had lived in the state 16 years prior to his death. He was born in Russia November 20, 1848, the son of John (Johannes) Meier, also from Russia. He was married to Rosa Ripplinger and they had five children: Frank; Helen (Englehardt); Mary (Tighe); Frances (Yost); and Magdaline (Filer). He died at Toppenish September 19, 1936. He was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery. [CFH] -- MEIER When Bertha Wingerter was born into the Kasimir Wingerter family, she had no idea of seeing the United States much less the Yakima Valley but a series of events led to this destination. First, her parents immigrated to the United States in 1898 when she was about 19 years of age. The family settled in Bowdle, South Dakota. In 1899 she married Ferdinand (Fred) Heilman and they had eleven children, five of whom lived to adulthood, all born at Bowdle. Fred was the son of Matthaeus Heilman and was born in Russia in 1870. Mr. Heilman passed away during the influenza epidemic during World War I, November 10, 1918. Their children are: Joseph, who married Rosina Schnellbach; Margaretha (Margaret), who married Francis Geier; Barbara, who married Barney Mauch; Frank, who married Mary Ann Thalheimer; and Mary, who married Jack Hanson. In 1919, Bertha married Frank Meier. They moved to Toppenish where they lived until the time of his death in 1957. At the time of her death in 1960, she was living with her daughter, Barbara Mauch at Tulee Lake, California. Mr. Meier's parents were Anton and Rosa (Ripplinger) Meier. His first wife was Barbara Heilman, Fred's sister, they had two children, Frank and Joseph. Mrs. Meier's parents were Kasimir and Kathrina (German) Wingerter. The family were members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church. They are buried at Elmwood Cemetery. [ Information by Barbara (Wingardner) Toop and Thelma Wingardner By Louise Potter - CFH] -- MELCHER My dad, John Melcher, was born in Brunnental, Russia, July 20, 1894, the son of George and Mary (Linker) Melcher. My mother was Lillian Hert, daughter of Gottlieb and Mary Hert, she was born in Drummond, Idaho. Dad worked with my mom' father, Gottlieb Hert, at Wapato on my grandfather's orchard. My folks moved to Granger in 1946 where they had a vineyard on North Granger Road. Dad was confirmed in St. Paul's Evangelical Church at Portland March 27, 1910 by Pastor J. Hergert. He changed his name at that time from Johannes to John. Dad was naturalized January 31, 1937 at Portland. My folks had four children; John, myself (Joan Saunders); Lawrence and Jack. Prior to coming to the valley they lived in Klamath Falls, Odessa, and Portland. In Klamath Falls he worked laying sewer lines, in Portland he did foundry work. [CFH/by Joan (Melcher) Saunders] -- MERK Alex, was born in 1909 in Russia. He came to the U.S. with his parents when he was two years of age. He spent his early childhood in Warden, Montana. They moved to Zillah where he grew up and farmed with his family. He married Rita Brisbois in 1931, she was born in Athena, Oregon. At the age of 10 she moved with her parents to the Yakima Valley. Alex and Rita were married and lived in Zillah, Wa. many years before moving to Grandview, Wa. Both worked for Perham Fruit Company until retirement. Rita, died December 11, 1973. Besides her husband she left a daughter, Mrs. Carmen Zajac; four sisters and a brother, Roy Brisbois of White Swan, Wa. The Merk's were members of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Grandview. Alex died September 14, 1975. Besides his daughter he left six sisters, Mrs. Joe Deyo, Mrs. Keith Morris, Marie Downing, Catherine Blair, Marie Rose and Anna Tuttle. Six brothers, Jack and Henry Stencil of Zillah; George Stencil of White Salmon; Dave Merk of Sacramento, Cal; Ray Merk of Zillah; and Roy Merk of Anaheim, Ca. Burial was in the Zillah Cemetery. [YHR] -- MERK Elizabeth (Wagner) Merk, wife of Alex Merk of Zillah, was born June 30, 1882 in Russia. Her husband was also born in Russia. She passed away March 21, 1936 at Toppenish and is buried in Zillah Cemetery. [CFH] -- MEYER George, born February 24, 1896 to Mr. & Mrs. John Meyer, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. On March 14, 1923 he was married to Emma Michael, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. George Michael. Emma was born in Russia in 1895. She came to the U.S. with her parents at the age of 13 (1909). Where they first settled in the U.S. is not known, they moved to the Yakima Valley in 1921. George's family settled in the Puget Sound area. During WWI, he served in the U.S. Army. Shortly after the war, he moved to the Yakima Valley, where he was married and farmed for a number of years. He also worked as a lumberjack and a machinist. He was a member of the WWI Barracks 157, the Yakima Valley Chapter of Disabled American Veterans. Emma was a member of the Auxiliary, Chapter #8. Emma died on June 8, 1981. Her survivors were, husband; a son, Frank Meyer of Toppenish; two sisters, Effie Ulrich of Tacoma and Lydia Wettee of Germany. A son, Jack, died September 24, 1979. Jack's wife was Elsie Balzer. George was married a second time to Pauline Reich on March 10, 1982 in Yakima. George died on April 19, 1982. His wife, Pauline survived him. Also, his sister, Ida Ridders of Portland, Oregon. He was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. [YHR] -- MEYER Jacob, born in 1908 in Russia. He immigrated at an early age to America with his family. They lived in Ritzville, Wa., when they came to the state is not known. He received his education at Ritzville. He was a sheep man and worked as a farm hand there. He went into the military service, and after his return from service he returned to Grandview where he farmed. He was a veteran of WWII and a member of the American Legion. He died October 13, 1979. His survivors were four brothers; George Meyer of Grandview; Alexander of Roseburg, Oregon; Alvin of Spokane; Ben of Newport, Oregon; and a sister, Mrs. Lydia Neutz of Newport, Oregon. A brother, Henry, died in 1971. Smith Funeral Home in Grandview in charge of arrangements. He is interred in the Grandview Cemetery. [YHR] -- MEYER Konrad and Katherine Elizabeth (Brautigam) Meyer were both born in Russia, Konrad in Reskowatha, Kolb, Russia. Konrad's parents were Johannes (John) Meyer and Marie Schierman, he was born June 10, 1873 and she August 25, 1878. They came to the valley in 1927; he was a farmer. There were five children born to them, Victor, Konrad, Jr., Tiena (Morton), Mildred (Selcho) and Hannah (Kautz). Before coming to the valley they lived in the Ritzville area where he farmed and was a laborer. Mr. Meyer died in 1958 and Mrs. Meyer in 1971. They were members of the Faith Lutheran Church in Toppenish. Konrad, Jr. (Tony), was born April 1, 1898 at Kolb Russia and died at Toppenish November 12, 1981. Konrad married Fern (Ash) Ashelman in 1946, she had four children; Fred, Perry and John Ashelman and Mrs. Margaret Ruff. [Information by Perry Ashelman - By Louise Potter - CFH] -- MILLER Adam, born in Russia on December 21, 1880. He was the son of Conrad Miller and Anna Elizabeth Becker. His wife, Alice, was born in 1882 in Russia. Immigration date not known, but they were early arrivals in the Yakima Valley. A daughter, Mary Elizabeth was born on August 10, 1917 at Shrag, Wa. She died March 1, 1983. The information on this family is limited. Other family members were Martha Lapp and sons, John, Henry and Adam. Alice died on October 11, 1956, and Adam on May 13, 1941. Both are buried in Tahoma Cemetery. [YVGS] -- MILLER Alexander, born in Russia in 1856. He married Esther C. Becker, she was born in Russia in 1852. They came to the Yakima Valley prior to 1900. Esther became ill with cancer, and she went to Portland for treatment. She died in a hospital in Portland, December 18, 1903. Alexander died on December 9, 1941. He was living in the valley. Both he and Alice are buried in Tahoma Cemetery. [YHR] -- MILLER My folks moved to the Toppenish area in 1919, dad picked fruit and then worked for the Washington Nursery. My dad was born in Kolb, Russia and at the time of his death in 1970 had lived in the Toppenish area for 52 years. When my folks came to Toppenish they lived at Germantown. My dad Conrad Miller was born May 18, 1882, the son of Henry Jacob Miller and Alice Ingel. My mother was Elizabeth Anna Hauck, daughter of George and Catherine Hauck. She was born at Rosendal, Russia March 13, 1885. My mother and her folks immigrated in 1899 and dad and his folks in 1887. They were married in 1905 in Odessa, Washington. There were nine children: Robert, Elias, Eleanora (Sawyer), Yetta (Stroh), Lawrence, Mary (Daley), Julius (Jay), John and myself, Betty (Mrs. Emil Weiss). Dad had a brother Adam and three sisters, Nina, Katie (Milam) and Annie. Mother had six sisters, Tillie, Katie, Cecelia, Julia, Molly (Wirchosky) and Margaret (Wirchosky) and two brothers, John and Ed Hauck. Conrad and Elizabeth celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1955. Elizabeth lived to the age of 97, she died November 8, 1982. Conrad preceded her in death. He died June 17, 1970. Both are buried in the Elmwood Cemetery at Toppenish, Wa. [Information from Betty (Miller) Weiss - By Louise Potter - CFH] -- MILLER I, John Miller, would like to record a few facts about the Miller family whose ancestors were part of the great migration from West Germany in 1767 at the invitation of Catherine The Great of Russia, and who settled about 75 miles south of Saratov on the east side of the Volga river in the Kanton Seelmann and in the village of Brunnental. My ancestors were agricultural people. My father, Conrad Miller, was the son of Conrad and Alice (Becker) Miller and was born November 5, 1876 at Brunnental and died in Wapato, Washington in 1945. He married Elizabeth Klein, the daughter of Casper Klein and Barbara Kinsfather. She was also born in 1876 in Brunnental and died in Wapato, Washington in 1958., To this marriage was born seven children: Conrad (Bud); Henry (Harry); Fred; Alice; Mary; Molly; and John. On October 30, 1912, my parents with their family, embarked from Liverpool, England on the ship Dominion, and arrived at the harbor of Philadelphia, U.S.A. Our destination was Portland, Oregon to join some of our relatives who had immigrated earlier. My parents worked at different jobs in the Portland area until 1916 when the desire to live on the land brought them to Moxee, Washington where they did general farming of hay, grain, cattle and sugar beets. Yes, they also picked hops. Again, they were on the move to Lingle, Wyoming where they farmed a short while, but the lure of the Yakima Valley brought them back to Harrah, Washington in 1919. For many years they were engaged in raising potatoes, hay, grain, cattle, etc. The decades of the twenties and thirties were financially difficult years. Although farm income was meager, everyone in the family worked on or off the farm when job opportunities availed themselves, to maintain the family unit. Fresh vegetables from the garden and other farm produce kept us well fed. The teaching of religious concepts was dominant in our home and in our lives. The Bible was the source of our faith that always expressed an optimistic viewpoint. We were glad to become Americans and we respected the privilege of "Freedom" in a free land. The work ethic was our heritage but the love of parents and one for another of the family was our home environment. Some of the happiest years of our lives was the enrollment of my father and his three sons in a two-year citizenship preparatory class in Yakima. We were humble but deeply gratified when Judge Stanley Webster of the Yakima Federal Court at the conclusion of our citizenship training period said "This is a proud moment in my career to be able to grant Mr. Miller and his three sons the right of citizenship of the United States of America". I married Mary Howard, who was born in Maryville Tennessee and whose family had moved to the Wapato area. We were married in 1933. I have lived and worked in the Yakima Valley most of my life. Mary passed away February 20, 1989. [by John Miller, interview by David Schoessler] -- MILLER Fred was born in Brunnental, Russia in 1894. He came to the U.S. with his parents when he was seven years of age. The family lived for a time in Oregon and later in Wyoming before coming to the Yakima Valley in 1921. Fred married Esther Becker at Toppenish on July 25, i926. The Wapato Hope Lutheran Church marriage records list Esther as age 20 when she and Fred were married. Fred became an American citizen in 1939. At the time Fred died he had been living in western Washington. He died April 12, 1975. Besides his wife he left three sons; Fred and Dale of Outlook; Marvin of Kent, Wa.; a daughter, Marlene of Seattle; two brothers, Henry and John, and a sister, Mary. [YHR] -- MILLER George, son of Jacob Miller and Alice (Ingel) Hinkelson, who were both from Kolb, Russia. Jacob was born December 21, 1843, died at Davenport, Wa. and is interred in the Odessa Cemetery. Alice was born in 1845 and passed away in March, 1916. She is also interred at Odessa. The children born to Jacob and Alice while in Russia were: George, born July 14, 1873 in Kolb; Adam born November 19, 1875, he married Clara Quade; Katie, June 8, 1878; Annie, February 29, 1880; Conrad, May 18, 1882; Nina, July 25, 1885. The family immigrated to the U.S. in 1887. They first settled in Omaha, Nebraska. A daughter was born to them there on July 25, 1895. She died June 20, 1907. They next moved to the state of Washington settling at Ritzville. George as a single man acquired a homestead at Odessa, Wa. He met his neighbor, Katie Kanzeler, who soon became his wife. She was the daughter of Adam Kanzeler and Christina Elsie Koch. She was born March 4, 1875 at Peskanka, Russia. The children born to them were; Daniel, August 5, 1897 at Odessa, he married Bertha Harting; Lena, February 22, 1899 at Ritzville, she married Edward Louis Gessler; Benjamin, March 22, 1900, he married Frances; Hanna, March 1, 1902 at Ritzville, she married Jess Lin John; William, May 20, 1903 at Ritzville, he married Lillian Mae Weber; Beverly (Milly), November 19, 1904, she died Jan. 29, 1934; Simmon, March 24, 1907, he died January 1908; Millie, August 24, 1908, she married William Lind; Irene, December 1910, she died October 4, 1919 in the Yakima Valley; and Emma, January 10, 1912 at Odessa, she married James Reed (1st) Al Tauscher. Katie died at the early age of 38, on February 20, 1913 and George moved his family to the Yakima Valley in 1918. He worked as a laborer and also farmed. They lived near the town of Wapato. George died March 13, 1932 and is interred in the Tahoma Cemetery at Yakima. [Information from the Miller Family - By Frieda Brulotte - YHR] -- MILLER Henry, was born in Kolb, Russia on December 2, 1896. He came to the state of Washington in 1908 and in 1910 moved to Ritzville, Wa. In 1936 he moved to Sunnyside. He married Lora S. Koch, born in Ritzville in 1904 where she spent her early years and received her education. She and Henry were married November 24, 1929 at Ritzville. They moved to Sunnyside where they owned and operated the Quality Feed and Seed store until 1947. After he sold the store he farmed until his retirement. After Lora died, November 26, 1981, Henry went to live with a daughter in Port Orchard, Mrs. John W. (Kathryn) MaCan. Henry died in 1985. He left besides his daughter, Kathryn, another daughter, Mrs. David (Carol) Olsen; two sisters, Emma Kinzell and Mary Webb, both of Ritzville. He had been a member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Sunnyside. [YHR] -- MILLER John P. born in 1896 in Luxembourg, son of Matthew Miller and Anna Funk. He married Martha Kirkoffner, born in 1903. Her parents were Joseph Kirkoffner and Mary Eberts. John and Martha were married on February 17, 1920. This information was taken from the early marriage records of Yakima County. [YVGS] -- MILLER / VOLK A brief history sketch of the Miller-Volk families as presented by their granddaughter, Suzanne Grubb. Marianna Volk and Joseph Miller came to the United States with her parents, Peter and Margaret (Ripplinger) Volk, from Elsass, Russia. They sailed on the SS Stubbenkuk from Antwerp, Belgium to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, arriving on November 29, 1893. Their stated destination was Illinois. They actually traveled from Halifax to Chicago, where they took a train to Eureka, South Dakota. oseph and Marianna were married on January 8, 1894 and moved to North Dakota in 1895. They homesteaded 160 acres, for which there is a receipt in the Receiver's Office at Devil's Lake, North Dakota dated Feb. 21, 1902. In 1905 they purchased 80 additional acres, and in 1906, another 320 acres. In 1912, Joseph heard that the Canadian government wanted people to help settle the western Canadian lands, and would give free train rides to anyone wanting to move there. He decided to move his growing family there and first purchased land near High River, Alberta, Canada, but sold it to buy land near Beisecker, Alberta, where there was a sizable German-Russian Catholic population. This land still remains in our family, owned by a grandson. In 1925, Joseph and Marianna sold the Canadian farm to their son, Caspar. By this time, the four oldest children, including Caspar, were married and had established homes in the Beisecker area. Joe and Marianna packed all their belongings, and with the children still remaining at home, set out for California, they stopped in Yakima to visit Joseph's nephew, Kaspar Miller and family. They liked the area so much they decided to stay. They bought a small farm in the Wapato area where they lived for about two years. Then the farm was traded for the Economy Tire Shop in Yakima, and the Millers moved into a home they had built on South Ninth Ave. They remained in this home, permanently, raising the last of their children. They enjoyed many years of retirement with frequent visits by their children and grandchildren. THE MILLER LINEAGE John Mueller (original spelling) and Odelia Ball. Little is known about this couple except that they were married, lived and died in Elsass, Russia, Kutschurgan District, of the Black Sea area. They had at least five children. The only two members of this family that we know of who came to America were Joseph, and later, his nephew, Kaspar. Children of John and Odella: Kaspar (1870-?), married Margaret Bodge, Elsass, Russia; Joseph (1874-1949), married Marianna Volk, Yakima, Wa.; Elizabeth (?), Elsass, Russia; Donat (?), Elsass, Russia; John (?), Elsass, Russia. Children of Joseph and Marianna Miller (1874-1949; 1876-1951): Theresa, died in infancy; John, died at age two; Joseph (1898-1961), married Eva Rolles, Lacombe, A1berta, married second time to Velma Orum; Frances (1900-1968), married Ike Ternes, Calgary, Alberta; Margaret (1902-1978), married Olwald Ternes, Calgary, Alberta, also to Lawrence Tollhauser, Calgary, Alberta; Caspar (1904-1972), married Dorothy Bushlem, Calgary, Alberta; Helen (1905-?), married Jack Roether, Yakima, Wa., also, Roy Connally and Russell Everson; Anna (1908-?), married Mark Boehme, Yakima, Wa.; John (19101965), married Stella Goulet, Yakima, Wa.; Donald (1912-?), married Kay Cromer, Yakima, Wa., also Opal MacDougal and Elsie Fleenor; Adam (1914-?), married Dorothy Johnson, Seattle, Wa.; Thomas (1917-?), married Betty Kranz, Seattle, Wa.; Ignatius* (1920-), married Jean Yearout, Yakima, Wa. *Ignatius was born April 23, 1920 at Beisecker, Alberta, Canada. He married Jean Yearout, she was born at Wapato, Wa. Their children are: Susan, married Joe Grubb. (Susan presented this work-up on the family for this project.) Her brother, Steven, married Linda Saucup. THE VOLK LINEAGE Children of Peter Volk and Barbara Mastel: Peter Volk (1854- 1929), married Margaret Ripplinger, Harvey, N.D.; Joseph Volk (1872- 1947), married Anna Miller, Harvey, N.D.; John (1874-1950), married Dorothy Lorenz, Rugby, N.D.; Barbara, married Merck, Russia; Katherine, married Thomas, Russia; Theresa, married Ebertz, Russia. Children of Peter Volk and Margaret Ripplinger: Mariana (1876- 1951), married Joseph Miller, Yakima, Wa.; Magdalena (1878-1924), married Francis Yesel, Quincy, Wa., and Clemens Klein, Balta, N.D.; Franceska (1880-1966), married Nick Bartsch, Harvey, N.D.; Anna (1882- 1966), married Ferdinand Koenig, Rugby, N.D.; John (1890 -1934), married Christine Ganje, Harvey, N.D.; Margaret (1893-1962), married Joseph Martin, Frederic, Wi.; Frank (1899-1967), married Carolina Ganje, New Rockford. Kaspar Miller, (1870-?) married Margaret Bodge, Elsass, Russia. Kaspar, Jr. (1890-1947), married Elizabeth Buckmeyer, Yakima, Wa. Kaspar Jr. was a nephew of Joseph Miller. Kaspar came to America in 1910. He lived at Devil's Lake, N.D. for a time, where he married Elizabeth. In 1921 they came to Yakima. They had ten children, the first two dying in infancy, were followed by eight sons, Balzar, Louis, Matthew, Kaspar, Millard, Francis, Paul and Ray. Kaspar Miller and Margaret Bodge had at least one daughter, name unknown, who was last known to be living in Siberia. There may well have been other siblings who suffered the same fate. -- MILLER Peter, a native of Russia was born in 1836. From the records of Shaw and Sons, he is listed as having been in the U.S. for 26 years (1899). He had resided in this community for five years (1920). He lived to the age of 94 and made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Mike Kautzman. He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Yakima. He died on March 6, 1925. Shaw and Houston Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. (Now Shaw and Sons). He is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Yakima. [S & S] -- MILLER Peter Joseph, born April 18, 1896 in Bucharest. He had resided in the Yakima Valley since 1942, having moved here from Dickinson, North Dakota. He worked as a chef in the old Donnelly Hotel in Yakima. He died on September 26, 1980. He was survived by a sister, Mrs. Frances Brilz of Phoenix, Arizona. He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. [LMFH] -- MILLS Louis, born in Russia. Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima list him as a member. He died at the age of 91 in 1954. Keith & Keith Funeral Home in charge of his funeral arrangements. He is buried in the Tahoma Cemetery. [GLC] -- MINCH Henry, born on March 12, 1874 in Kolb, Russia. He was the son of David Minch and ? Meyers. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Russia. He married Marie Horst, daughter of Valentine Horst and Katherine Rehn. Marie was born in Kolb, Russia on February 27, 1876. Their son, Henry, was born November 3, 1900 in Kolb. The family immigrated to the U.S. in 1903. They settled in Nebraska. In 1931 they moved to the Yakima Valley, where they lived on a farm at Toppenish. They later moved to a place west of Wapato. The Minch's celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. They were members of the Grace Lutheran Church. They had two sons, Henry and Jacob, and three daughters, Marie, Martha and Pauline. [Marie Katherine died June 24, 1960 and Henry died June 1, 1964. MFH] -- MOSER John Moser, a farmer, lived 17 years in the valley prior to his death in 1954. His wife, Anna Maria Lowenberger, had lived in Toppenish since 1928. They were members of the Faith Lutheran Church in Toppenish. John's parents were John and Christine (Christman) Moser and his wife's parents were Alfred and Carolyn (Albrecht) Lowenberger. Mr. Moser was born in South Russia in 1884, and Mrs. Moser at Odessa, Russia in 1888. They had 14 children; Gust; John; Alfred; Reinhold; Philip; Samuel; William; Lydia (Eckert); Bertha (Burkhardt); Leona (Sumner); Mary (Moser); Christina (Hares); Martha (Litzenberg); and Emma (Winters). Mr. Moser also had a brother, Gust. [CFH] -- MOSER Michael, born in Russia in 1884. They immigrated to the U.S. and settled at Bismark, North Dakota. The family moved to the Yakima Valley in 1935. He and wife Alice were members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Michael died January 6, 1962. His survivors were his wife, seven sons and five daughters. Valentine of Seattle; Peter, Lawrence, Michael Jr., Frank, Joseph and Anthony, all of Yakima, Wa. His daughters are; Magalena Gleason, of Kentucky; Dorothy Wisehauser, Mary Magna, Alice Sutley and Theresa O'Bara all of Yakima. His son Michael, born August 16, 1917 in Bismark, N.D. came to the Yakima Valley in 1938. He married Freda Mettler in Yakima. He was a construction worker. Freda was born February 4, 1911 in Eureka, South Dakota. Mike died November 1, 1983 and Freda in 1987. Langevin Mussetter Funeral Home for both funeral arrangements. [YHR] -- MOX Fred (Frederick), was born in Russia on August 15, 1870. He had immigrated to the U.S. in 1888. He came to the U.S. when he was 30 years of age. His arrival in the Yakima Valley is not recorded in the church records. He was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. He met with an accident and died August 15, 1924, he leaves his wife Eva, nee Grunwold, three daughters and one brother. [GLC] -- MOX John, he and family are listed in the 1900 census of Yakima County. He was born in Russia in 1866. His wife Anna, was also born in Russia. They became naturalized citizens in 1893. He worked for the railroad. The census lists their two children, son Fred and daughter, Olga, both born in the state of Washington. [1900 Yakima County Census] -- NAFTS Jacob, born in 1885 in Donnhof, Russia. He married Katie Willman, they immigrated to the U.S. in (about) 1914. They settled at Billings, Montana. Their daughter, Esther, was born on March 15, 1916 in Billings. They left Montana and came to the Yakima Valley settling in the Toppenish, Sunnyside and Wapato areas, where they farmed. They were members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. The children born to them besides Esther, were daughter Emaline and a son Everett. Jacob and Katie moved to Portland, Oregon after they retired. In 1975 a chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia was formed, of which Esther became a member. Esther died in 1988. Jacob, her father, died November 12, 1971 at Portland. No further information is available on Katie. [YHR] -- OTTO Carl J., born on March 23, 1899 in Russia. He came to the U.S. with his family when he was seven, in 1906. They settled in North Dakota. It wasn't until 1940 that Carl came to the Yakima area. They were members of the Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. Carl was employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad. He had served in the U.S. Air Force in WWII. He died on June 22, 1961. He had moved to Portland, Oregon. He was survived by his wife, Alla, one daughter, two stepdaughters and one stepson. He was buried in the Willamette National Cemetery at Portland. [GLC] --PAULEY Phillip Pauley, who was born in Norka, Russia, June 15,1885, died January l, 1982 at Wapato. He had lived in the valley since 1926, he was a farmer. His wife was Mary C. Arnst (Phillip), and was the daughter of Jacob Arnst. She too was born in Russia, October 17, 1892. She died in Granger, December 3,1961. They had seven children: Clarence, Leviene, Fred, Esther (Cockburn), Mary Ann (Adams), Evelyn (Mauch), and Florence (Liebrecht). Mrs. Pauley had two brothers; George and John Arnst, and three sisters; Katie (Kister), Anna (Thurman) and Lydia (Whittenberger). [CFH] -- PEIL George, was born on March 22, 1884 in Russia. He and Mollie Rutz were married in Russia on October 18, 1904 in Underdorf, Russia. Mollie was born in 1888 in Underdorf, and raised there. George and Mollie immigrated to mid-western Canada. In 1937 they came to the Yakima Valley, and stayed here until they retired. They then moved to Portland, Oregon were George died on March 10, 1959. Mollie lived to the age of 94. She was living in the Emerald Terrace Nursing Center in Vancouver, Washington. She died September 24, 1982. She was brought to Sunnyside for burial in the Lower Valley Memorial Gardens, Smith Funeral Home in charge of funeral arrangements. Born to George and Mollie were three sons and eight daughters. Alexander, born in 1909, died Sept. 12, 1989, married Molly Schmidt, she died December 12, 1966; Victor died in November 1977 (his story is listed later); George Raymond of Portland, Oregon; Pauline Ross of Gering, Nebraska; Mollie Roe of Seattle, Wa.; Hilda Thorsen of Portland, Ore.; Bertha Zimbleman of Sumner, Wa.; Helen Raab, of Sunnyside, Wa.; Clara Turner of Renton, Wa.; Lydia Kraft (passed away in 1966); and Ruth Bettendorf of Portland, Ore. The Peil family had numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-greatgrandchildren. [YHR] -- PEIL Victor, born in Underdorf, Russia to George and Mollie (Rutz) Peil. They immigrated to Canada, then moved to Montana, U.S.A. He attended school in Montana. in 1923 he moved to Nebraska and farmed there with his family. On November 25, 1925 he married Hannah Kraft in Gering, Nebraska. They lived in Nebraska and Wyoming before moving to Sunnyside, Wa. in 1936. He farmed near Sunnyside for 21 years and was employed by the American Can Company of Sunnyside. He retired in 1972. Victor was a member and past president of the Paper Workers Union Local 17. He died November 11, 1977. He was 70 years old. Survivors are; his wife; two sons, Elmer of Juanita, Vernon of Burien; and a daughter, Mrs. Miriam Simmons of Bellevue, Wa. Also, his mother Molly Hulmbuck of Gering, Nebraska; two brothers, Alexander of Sunnyside and Raymond of Portland; seven sisters, Pauline Ross of Scotts Bluff, Neb., Mrs. Helen Raab, Mrs. Clara Turner, Molly Roe, Mrs. Bertha Zimbleman, Mrs. Hilda Thorsen and Ruth Bettendorf. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Rebecca. His burial was at the Lower Valley Memorial Gardens under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Sunnyside. [YHR] -- PELZEL Leopold (Leo) Frank, born in Russia in 1894. His wife, Barbara was born in Russia in 1900. She came to the U.S. at the age of four. Leo and Barbara lived at Fern Star, North Dakota until 1937 when they moved to the Yakima Valley. They were members of St. Paul's Cathedral in Yakima. Barbara preceded Leo in death. She died January 5, 1969. He died shortly after on May 4, 1969. Their survivors were; a son, Connie of Selah, Wa.; two daughters, Helen Heilman of Yakima and Mrs. Elizabeth Monroe of Portland, Ore. Barbara's three sisters are Mrs. Mary Roller of Red River Valley, N.D., Mrs. Theresa Flary of Portland, Ore. and Mrs. Emma Frenzel of Yakima. Leo left one brother, John Pelzel of Dickinson, N.D. [LMFH] -- PFAFF Phillip, born in Russia on November 18, 1881. He immigrated with his parents at the age of two. He married Magdalena, who was born in Russia in 1887. They came to Yakima in 1937. Information prior to that date is not available. They were members of the Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on Jan. 11, 1956. (married in 1906). Phillip died on September 14, 1956. He was survived by his wife, three daughters and six sons. Also one brother and five sisters. Magdalena died March 7, 1974. Their survivors were; Mrs. Raymond Loran of Spokane, Wa.; Mrs. Daniel Bergevin, of Sultan, Wa.; Mrs. Martha Ballard of Longmont, Colo.; Fred of Whitefish, Montana; Edwin of El Monte, Cal; Albert of Chandler, Ar.; William of Lyle, Wa., and Ted of Calusa, Ca. Also, 17 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and six great-greatgrandchildren. Shaw & Sons in charge of burial arrangements. They are interred in Terrace Heights Memorial Park. [GLC/YHR] -- PFEIF Henry, born in Frank, Russia on June 5, 1888. He came to the U.S. in 1913, settling first in Colorado. He moved to Odessa, Washington. There he married Hedwig Marie Graedel. She was born June 9, 1898 in Ritzville, Washington to Pastor Gottfried Gracdel and Bertha Billeter. Hedwig was reared and educated in Odessa, Washington. Pastor Graedel was instrumental in establishing a number of churches of the Congregational denomination. Hedwig and Henry were married on August 26, 1920. They moved to the Yakima Valley in 1930. He was a carpenter and building contractor. He retired in 1956. They were members of Yakima Evangelical Church. Henry died September 10, 1971. Hedwig passed away January 29, 1986. Their children were: Mrs. William (Frances) Sampson of Spokane; Mrs. LeRoy (Alice) Groenig of Yakima; Howard Pfeif of Yakima. [K&K/YHR] -- PFEIFER Gottlieb and family are listed in the 1910 Yakima County Census. Gottlieb, age 42, farmer, born in Russia. Wife, Justine, age 38, born in Russia. A daughter, Emma, age 7, born in Washington. Gottlieb and Justine were naturalized in 1900. Tahoma Cemetery records list, George, born August 4, 1866 in Russia, died November 10, 1935. Husband of Justine, son of Jacob Pfeifer, born in Russia. [LMFH - 1910 Yakima County Census] -- PISTER PISTER FAMILY TREK TO THE YAKIMA VALLEY J. George Pister Sr., wife Magdalena and three sons, J. George, Jr., J. Henry and Jacob departed in 1906 for Colorado from the Lutheran colony of Merkel located near Saratov, Russia, east of the Volga river. The purpose of their leaving was manifold. Demands for service in the Russian military were burdensome. Periods of conscription were lengthy and indefinite. Conditions in the Army were repulsive, especially for one of German descent. Survival was a real concern given the continuous war situation, bad food, poor sanitary practices, and exposure to extreme temperatures. The German colonies were harassed by gangs of bandits, revolutionaries, known as Bolsheviks. Land available to the family was inadequate to support the growing family, and opportunities for gaining additional land in the Merkel colony or elsewhere were most discouraging, then too, there were strong indications a revolution would soon take place. News arrived frequently from America telling of great opportunities, of free land, religious freedom, etc. The Pister family sold all their holdings to raise money for the trip to this great land of opportunity. They shipped out of Hamburg, Germany, bound for Galveston, Texas. There they boarded a train for Denver where other members of the Pister clan gathered. The cost of the trip severely depleted their funds to the extent that they had insufficient capital to begin farming, but German immigrant labor was in great demand because of their experience and reputation as hard workers. They soon found employment in the beet fields of Windsor/Greeley area. In 1907, Magdalena died while giving birth, leaving a family of three boys motherless. J. George Pister, Sr. met and married newly widowed, Mary Katherine Rutz, who had three daughters, Mary, Molly and Eva Elizabeth. She also brought two sons, Peter and Jacob, making a sizable work crew. All who were able worked in the fields as this was the custom in the Old Country. To this marriage, a daughter, Katie, was born in Windsor, Colorado in 1908. When an opportunity arose for the Pister family to realize their dream of owning a farm, the entire family moved to Belle Fourche, South Dakota. World War I created a tremendous demand for sugar and potatoes, for which the irrigated land of South Dakota was well suited. Bountiful crops produced undreamed of returns and the Pister family prospered, enabling them to purchase the finest horses and buggies. At war's end, the price for sugar and potatoes dropped precipitously, so that the Pister clan looked elsewhere for opportunities. In 1920, J. George, Jr. decided to separate from the clan to seek his fortune in Washington state. His first stop was Ritzville, where many Volga Germans settled. He obtained temporary employment in the local grain elevator until he could plan his next move. Much capital, which he did not have, was needed to start a wheat ranch. He became acquainted with John Borgens, George Kissler and the Eichler families. The group learned of offers by the Utah Idaho Sugar Company to set up families on farms for shares, so they decided to move to the Yakima Valley. George, Jr. contracted with the sugar company to operate a farm near the sugar factory at Toppenish. A fifth son, Reuben, joined other brothers in 1921. George had married Molly Rutz in 1912 and two sons were born at Ft. Collins, J. George Pister III and William F. Pister. Henry Edward and Carl E. were born in South Dakota. In 1925, a daughter, Marian Ella, was born in Yakima. Hard work and good crops yielded disappointing monetary returns to George Pister. He elected to move his family to Harrah for a couple of years, but the land called this farmer back to Toppenish for another stint of raising onions, sugar beets and other crops. He managed to keep his family fed and sheltered and reasonably well clothed. Carl said "If we were poor during the depression years, we didn't know it". Upon arrival in the U.S. at the age of 16, J. George Pister, Jr. could speak, read and write German and Russian fluently. With determination, he set about to teach himself to speak, read and write English as well. One of his proud accomplishments was helping to build Rimrock Dam with a slip and a pair of mules. In 1925, George moved his wife and five sons to Wapato where he purchased acreage on Campbell Road, built a home and planted fruit trees. He leased Indian land on which he raised sugar beets, alfalfa, potatoes, grain and truck garden crops. In addition, he operated a wholesale produce business in Wapato and rebuilt and sold farm machinery. In 1939, he retired from all of this and obtained a Real Estate Broker's license. He remained active in this until his death in 1966. George's father, J. George Pister, Sr. and brother, Jacob, and is wife, Eva, moved to Wapato in 1922 where they purchased a fruit orchard on Jones Road. During a part of the depression years, George, Sr. and Jacob moved to Yoder, Wyoming and in 1935 returned to Wapato. Henry married Elizabeth Reichert in 1912 and a son, Henry Albert, was born at Ft. Collins; a daughter, Bertha, was born in South Dakota. Henry and Elizabeth returned to the Denver area and then moved to Wapato shortly after the rest of the family, where they purchased an orchard adjacent to George, Jr. and lived there until his death. George and Molly's children were as follows: George, III, married Mayme Ranta in 1936. He worked for U & I Sugar Company, retiring as Sugar End Foreman. Upon retirement, he turned a hobby into a full time business of restoring antique furniture. William worked in a furniture factory in Portland and died in 1972. Henry married Elenora Hauf and enjoyed working in valley orchards. Carl entered the military in 1941 from which he retired. He married Grace M. Rodabaugh. Reuben married Elenore Martin and passed away in 1985 at Walla Walla. He was an employee of the city park department. Marian married Richard Cameron and for many years they have managed Hanson High Valley Fruit Orchard in Kennewick. Henry and Elizabeth's children are as follows: Henry Albert is a carpenter; Bertha married John Skinner and lives on a small farm west of Yakima; Esther married Roy Tuttle and lives in Florida; Alma married Antone Betsch, is retired, living in Yakima; and Curtiss, who died at an early age. Jacob's children were Jake, who married Emma Ropp, he also was a farmer; Esther, married Alex Kilthau, a farmer; Bob, who married Alice Frank, was a plant millright at U & I Sugar Company until the plant closed; Lillian married Troy Berry, a farmer in the boxmaking business; and Helen married Lyle Bond and they are in the farming and produce business. Katie, who was born to George Pister, Sr. and Mary Katherine Rutz, married Dell Polley in 1927, and farmed in Wapato where Walter and Donna were born. Dell met an untimely death and a few years later, she married Lloyd Benson and moved to Vancouver where a son, Dennis, was born. Walter married Murlee Hoffman, both educators; Donna married Bob Pennington and works for the Nabisco Company at Portland; Dennis is married and works for the Bonneville Power Administration. Thus the lives of the Pister clan continues to be woven into the fabric of the State of Washington. They carry on the traditions of the emigrants that taught them to learn, work hard, carefully husband your resources, contribute to the community welfare and plan ahead for hard times. [by Carl Pister] -- PISTER John Henry and Elizabeth. Their story submitted by Bertha Pister Skinner. Henry was the second son of George and Magdalena (Markheim) Pister. He was born in Russia on September 13, 1891. On April 10, 1907, George Pister arrived at Galveston, Texas aboard the SS Professor Woermann. From Galveston, George took his wife and three sons, George, Henry and Jacob to Fort Collins, Colorado where he would farm sugar beets. Elizabeth was the eldest child of Heinrich and Elizabeth (Reichert) Reichert. She was born in the village of Dietel, in the Volga River region of Russia, on October 19, 1893. In the early 1900s, they arrived at Ellis Island in New York and from there traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska. There they would make their home for the next several years. Heinrich worked in the railroad shop until an injury from a ruptured steam pipe ended his employment in the shop. About 1910 Heinrich moved his family to Fort Collins, Colorado. The Reicherts and Pisters were neighbors. Henry Pister and Elizabeth Reichert were married on December 12, 1912. The young couple worked first for George Pister, and then for Heinrich Reichert. In 1924 they moved to Washington state. Henry and Elizabeth had a family of four children, and were having a hard time in Colorado. In 1923, their son Raymond, died of diphtheria on November 23. Elizabeth was to be a mother again in January of 1924. In May of 1924, they moved to Parker, Washington. George Pister, Henry's father and his families had moved to Washington state from Fort Collins. The elder Pister had a farm on the Jones Road at Wapato. Henry (Hank) and Bertha Pister were of school age and began their education in the one-room school house. Grades one through eight were taught. They lived in Parker about a year when Henry and Elizabeth bought a 2 1/2 acre parcel on the Campbell road in Wapato. The first peach trees Henry planted froze out too many times, and were replaced with prune trees. It was the time of the Great Depression in the United State, and things were bad everywhere. Henry took a job irrigating for Mr. Villman, who had a small apple orchard. At harvest time Henry hauled the apples in and Elizabeth helped in the sorting. It was also the time for putting food up for the winter months ahead. Everybody helped, regardless of age whether it was peeling the fruit, washing jars or just the everyday chores of baking bread or washing clothes on a washboard. The three girls, Bertha, Esther and Alma, had the job of leading the milk cow down the road where she would feed on the roadside grasses. They packed a lunch to take along, and while the cow grazed, they played games, swam in the ditch and ate their lunch. The cow was led back in time for milking. There was an addition to the family in May, 1931. Brother Curtis was born. Aside from the chores, school work had to be done. The cousins gathered at the kitchen table. Bowls of popcorn or apples eased the burden of home work. Holidays were always a family affair. Thanksgiving dinners and the Christmas plays at church were looked forward to by everyone. Visiting with the neighbors, Mr. Linker and his sons, the Kochs, brother George across the road, the Borgens and the Schells. This would begin friendships that would last for years. Later the Linker family would move away, and the Eichlers would be the new neighbors. The Schell family was from the Ritzville area in Washington, and the two families met in church. Henry had become disillusioned with the German Congregational Church in Wapato, and joined the Pentecostal Church. Henry and Elizabeth lived in their home on Campbell Road for 28 years. On June 7, 1954, Henry died. He was 62 years old. Elizabeth sold the small orchard in 1955 and moved in to town where she lived until she died on January 7, 1964. Elizabeth was 70 years old. Hank lived in East Selah. He married Irene Moss in 1938. They had one son, David. Irene died in 1986. Bertha married John Skinner in May 1939. They had three daughters, Judith, Karen and Jeannie. Judith died of leukemia in 1974. Karen has two sons, John now stationed in Germany, and Michael. They live in Yakima. Jean has two daughters, Jamie and Heather, both students at West Valley School in Yakima. Esther married Roy Tuttle in 1944, and today lives in Florida. They had one daughter, Shirley, who died in 1976 of cancer. Shirley had four children, two of whom were raised by Esther and Roy. Alma and Antone (Tony) Betsch were married in 1940. They had two children, Daniel and Dianne. Danny lives with his wife, Kathleen (Pomerenki) in Yakima. Dianne lives with her husband, Robert Allen and her two sons. Curtis married Francis Raitz of Wapato. They had two sons. They were divorced. Curt died of cancer in 1976. He was 45 years old, and lived in Oroville, California with his wife Joanne and their son, John. -- PLATO Fred William Plato lived in the state just one year prior to his death in 1937. During that time he was a farmer in the Satus area, he died near the Shearer School at Satus. Little is known about Mr. Plato other than the fact that he was born in Russia, May 29, 1883. [CFH] -- PLOUD John, born in Russia in May, 1866. He was naturalized in 1894. The census lists his occupation as cook and servant. [1910 Yakima County Census] -- POMERINKE My dad and mother, Gottlieb and Louisa (Klaudt) Pomerinke, were both born in Paris, Russia. Dad's dad was Gottlieb Pomerinke also. My dad was born in 1863 and came to the United States in 1885. Mom also came lo the United States in 1885. She probably came with her brothers, Gottlieb and John Klaudt as her parents were not with her. She was about 11 years old at that time, having been born in 1874. My dad was 22 when he came over, probably with his brother, Andrew. My folks were married in 1890, September 24, at Scotland, South Dakota. They lived in both South and North Dakota, where my dad farmed. When they lived in Paradise, Montana, he worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad. They moved to the Yakima Valley in 1929, dad worked in the fruit orchards at first and then went to work on the railroad from which he retired. He also did a little farming. There were 15 children born to them, 13 of whom grew to adulthood; Emil, Rudolph, Andrew, Gottlieb, John, William, Anna (Hager), Albert, Arthur, Martha (Ambrose), Bertha (Lemke), Harold and Erwin. All of the kids were born in the United States, the first seven in South Dakota, the rest in North Dakota, around Jamestown, where we farmed. My folks were hard-working, my dad loved to sing and he instilled the love of music in his children. There are four of my family that play instruments, we love to get together and play, I still play saxophone at church, have played sax for over 50 years. Dad lived to be 81 years old. He died in 1944 and mom in 1948 at Toppenish. [Information by Art Pomerinke - CFH - By Louise Potter] -- POPE Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pope moved to Toppenish about 1940. They were both born in Russia, Henry, May 21, 1885 and his wife, Elizabeth (Schluger), August 13, 1886. Henry's father was Jack Pope and his mother's maiden name was Hale. Elizabeth's father was John Schluger. They were survived by ten children: Jack, John, Henry, Jim and Bill, Elizabeth (Moser), Alice (Beringer), Helen (Fries), Delores (Hoge), and Esther (Taylor). Mrs. Pope was also survived by a brother, John Schluger and two sisters, Christina Yost and Alice Sower. They were members of the Faith Lutheran Church and are buried in the Zillah Cemetery. Mr. Pope died February 4, 1956. Mrs. Pope August 30, 1963. [CFH] --RAAB Emanuel Raab and his wife, Amelia, nee Renk, arrived in America and docked at New York City in August of 1910. He was born in Russia March 25, 1876 and received his citizenship November 20, 1916 at Mercer County, North Dakota. They homesteaded at Dodge, North Dakota and Golden Valley, North Dakota. In 1924 they, with their family, moved to Terry, Montana and later to what was called Sidney Montana Valley. They had seventeen children. In 1936 Emanuel and Amelia, along with four of their youngest children, moved to the state of Washington and in January of 1937 to the Yakima Valley where Mr. Raab continued farming until he retired in 1941. He passed away November 17, 1942, his wife, Amelia, passed away the 5th of August, 1945. They are both buried at Sunnyside, Washington. [Interview by Maxine Bender] --RADACH My father, Gottfried Radach was born in Kronendal (Kronental), Russia, June 14, 1880. Immigrated to the United States, leaving Russia January 13, 1899 and arriving in New York in February of 1899. He homesteaded in Alfred, North Dakota where he married my mother, Pauline Sutnik, July 3, 1905. Mother was born in Paraess, Bessarabia, August 10, 1885. Children born to my parents at Alfred were: Emilice, May 15, 1906; John, May 20, 1907; Edward, July 22, 1909; Anna, April 14, 1912; Adolph, October 27, 1913; Theodore, December 1, 1915; Gottfried, February 14, 1916; Gottfried, August 10, 1918; Aaron, November 10, 1919; William, July 6, 1921; and Alex, August 10, 1922. They moved to Jamestown, North Dakota and two children were born to them there: Esther, May 5, 1924 and Ruth, February 17, 1926. Then they moved to Molt, North Dakota, and born to them there was: Irene (Ida), June 5, 1927. She died of appendicitis at twelve years of age. Next they moved to Cashmere, Washington, in 1935, for two years, and picked fruit there. In 1937 they moved to Sunnyside, Washington and bought 20 acres which they farmed. They had a few head of cattle, worked in sugar beets and went to Cashmere to pick fruit. When they first came to Sunnyside there was only one grape patch by the river (Yakima), open farming, sugar beets, and a little asparagus. They still picked apples at Cashmere and came back to top sugar beets until Christmas. Mother passed away October 14, 1939. Father passed away June 30, 1965 in Yakima. Both are buried at Sunnyside. [Told to Bernice Elledge by Alex and Anna Radach] -- RADACH My folks were Gottfried Radach, Sr. and Paulina Sutnick. Dad was born at Kronental, Russia and mother in Bessarabia. They landed in February of 1899 at New York and went to Alfred, North Dakota. Mother's family went to Ashley, North Dakota. My folks were married in North Dakota. After they married they went to Molt, North Dakota. In the spring of 1935 they moved to Cashmere, Washington. They were there two years and moved to Outlook, Washington in the spring of 1937. Paulina lived until October 14, 1939 and Gottfried until June 30, 1965. They are both buried in the Sunnyside Cemetery. by Bob Radach, interview by Maxine Bender (Edit. Note: Mrs. Radach was the daughter of Andred Sutnik and Hanna Horning. In Pauline's obituary it states that she had lived in the United States 35 years.) [MM] -- RAINES Jacob, born in Russia in November 1859. He was the son of Aaron Raines, who was born in January 1829. Jacob's mother was born in Russia. She is not listed in the census of Yakima County of 1900. Jacob, age 40. He was a farmer. Wife, Minnie, age 35. She was born in 1864 in Germany. Daughters were; Emma, age 14, born October 1, 1885 in Iowa; Laura, age 12, born in October, 1887 in Iowa; and Bertha, an infant, also born in Iowa. A son, George, age 10, born in November, 1889 in Iowa. Aaron was listed in the census, so we conclude he was living with this family. [1900 Yakima County Census] -- RATHJEN Christian, born in Hamburg, Germany. His wife, Julianna Hintz, was born in Russia on September 9, 1882. They immigrated to the U.S. and settled in North Dakota. In 1929 they came to the Yakima Valley. They were members of the Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. Christian died at age 69. Julianna married Mr. Werre, he had two sons by a previous marriage. She died January 11, 1961 and left a son, Henry Rathjen. Henry was born January 10, 1910 and died August 21, 1963 in Yakima. His wife, Mary Rosenstein was born in 1908. She died August 9, 1968. Mary left three brothers, Frank, John and Stanley Rosenstein all of Yakima and a sister, Mrs. Hattie Goebel of Yakima. [YHR/GLC] -- REHN Henry was born in Kolb, Russia on July 15, 1878. At the age of 22 he was married, immigrating that same year with his bride to the U.S., the year was 1900. She, however, died within a short time after coming to this country. Henry first settled at Sugar City, Colorado. Back in Russia was a young lady of his acquaintance. He asked her to come to America and be his wife. Katherine Elizabeth Bernhardt, born in Frank, Russia, February 17, 1882. She became his wife on June 2, 1902. They soon left Colorado and moved to Tacoma, Washington. Henry worked at several different jobs. Their first child was born on June 6, 1904. He died as a young child. He was named Alex. The other children born to this family were: Ella, born March 20, 1906; Carl, September 6, 1907; Manuel, October 9, 1908; Harry, October 20, 1911; Sam, November 18, 1913; Paul, August 4, 1917; and Pauline, November 21, 1923. The Rehn family moved to the Yakima Valley in 1919. First he worked for farmers in the Moxee and Terrace Heights area. His brother- in-law, Jacob Hein, also came to the valley and worked along with Henry before he went into farming for himself. The Rehn's purchased land at Harrah. They farmed and had dairy cows. When they retired from the farm they moved to Yakima. Henry died on May 24, 1954 and Katherine on January 16, 1959. Both are interred in the Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima. Their church affiliation was Lutheran. [Information from Ella (Rehn) Hutcheson - By Frieda Brulotte] -- REHM My folks were Henry (Heinrich) and Mary Catherine (Schantz) Rehm. My dad was born in Moor, Russia in 1873, mother at Messer, Russia in 1876. They came to the United States in 1903, arriving at Ellis Island, going from there to Kansas. My folks were married in Russia and had two children who were born there, Alex and Molly. Molly was three months old and my brother two years old when they came to the United States. I think of how brave they were to come. My dad's father died when he was only 37 years old, leaving my grandmother a widow. A man came from the United States, returning to his homeland, and married my grandmother. He was full of stories about the United States and he said to my folks "If I had a cane, I would walk to America, if I was young like you". He kept talking about it until finally they contacted an uncle in Kansas. How sad it is to think of them leaving their parents, never to see them again, and for their parents never to see these grandchildren again...They came with a nephew, Henry Rehm, his father's name was Christopher, they are the only relatives we have in the United States that we know of. The last letter we had from any of the family was in 1929, but that is all gone now. There were two girls about the age of my sister, Mary, and myself, and they wrote about the terrible times they were having, they had revoked all their privileges. My dad trained four years in the Russian Army, mama waited and then they got married. My dad did mostly farm work here in the Valley, they lived in Toppenish. He had horses and he worked for the various farmers, Benz, etc. Before the folks left Russia, dad had his fortune told by a Gypsy. The cards told her that she could see a big body of water, that's before they thought about coming, and they were going beyond to a new country, also that they were never going to be rich. But she said they were going to be in perfect health, and live to a ripe old age. I never knew them to be sick a day in their lives, living to 86 and 85. The fortune teller really hit it...No Riches! I think they were rich because they had their good health and came to America. Dad worked for the railroad in Montana. They came to the Valley in 1919-1920. They were members of the Lutheran Church and are buried at Elmwood Cemetery. They had five children that survived them; Alex, Molly (Pointer), Henry, Mary (Wagner), and myself (Lydia Hadley). [Information by Lydia (Rehm) Hadley - CFH - By Louise Potter] -- REICH Magdalena Reich is my grandmother and she was born in South Russia, September 6, 1872 and came to the United States in 1899, to North Dakota, with her husband. She was the daughter of John Bohnet. She was survived by six children; Gottfried, Dan, Aaron, Pauline (Fauth), Lydia (Holt), and Maggie (Nitschke). At the time of her death in 1956 she was also survived by two brothers, Christ and Reinhold Bohnet who were living in California. She was a member of the Church of God Seventh Day. Elder Heuer had the service. My grandfather, Gottfried Reich, died in the 1930s in North Dakota and she came to Toppenish to be near her daughter, Pauline Fauth. [CFH/with information from Aaron Fauth] -- REICHERT Michael (Mike) Reichert, born February 21, 1880, Rohrbach, South Russia. He died November 22, 1955 and is buried at the Sunnyside Cemetery. Elizabeth Louise Moser, born August 3, 1881, Rohrbach, South Russia, Odessa, died February 27, 1950 and is buried at the Sunnyside Cemetery. She was the daughter of Matthew Moser and Susanna Hochalter. Michael and Elizabeth were married at Rohrbach and they, along with their family, came to America in November of 1906. The family was to arrive at Halifax, Canada, but due to sickness aboard ship they were rerouted to Ellis Island until all the people aboard were well; they arrived and docked at Portland, Maine. They departed Portland enroute to and settled on a farm about seven miles northwest of St. Francis, Cheyenne County, Kansas, the old Gus Felzien farm, just north of the Republican River. Later they moved onto the farm of Jacob and Eva Weist, northwest of the Felzien farm, then later on to Loveland, Colorado. The Mike Reichert family moved to Loveland in 1912 and settled on a farm in that area. In 1922 they moved to Wyoming, then to Montana, and were living in Sunnyside at the time of their death. Their first three children were born at Rohrbach, Odessa, South Russia; Albert, Alvina and Christina. Ernest, Theodore (Teddy), and August were born at St. Francis; Nettie, Rebecca, Lydia, Sam, Benjamin and Reuben were born at Loveland and Goldie was born at Bosler, Wyoming. Albert and Merle Stanley were married in Sunnyside June 6, 1947. He was employed by Anderson Motors in Grandview and later by C. Speck Motors in Sunnyside, retiring in 1977. He died April 28, 1981 at Granger. [YHR] -- REINKE Luisa, was born March 9, 1863 according to the funeral record, or April 11, 1865 according to her daughter Lydia. She was born in Bessarabia, Russia, probably in Eigenheim, where her parents, Michael Reinke and Wilhelmina Frichel lived in 1890. Her father was a farmer and a circuit judge. Luisa and Martin Reich were married in 1886. He was from Alt Elft, Bessarabia. Their children were: Matilda, born June 10, 1884; Rudolph, born 1891; Theresia, born 1894; and John, born 1900. Lydia Reich Lobe said, "Their house was made of a kind of brick, that was painted white, with the corners painted lavender. The foundation was sprayed with a type of glitter rock." She believed the whole village was done in the same fashion, with everyone having much pride in their homes, notwithstanding that it was the law to sweep yards and streets everyday. The home was beautiful inside, containing heavy furniture and big pillows on the beds. One room had a big oven for baking and heating the house. The stoves were all built in with bricks, with just the top open for cooking. Everyone lived in the village and the farms were outside the town walls. Among the farms besides the Reichs and Judge Michael Reinke, were those of many of the villagers. When it came time for harvest, Lydia and her sister, Theresia helped out by holding the sacks to catch the wheat as it came from the fanning machine. Also, plentiful were vineyards with many grapes requiring the whole family to pick. Three barrels would be placed on a wagon and driven out to the vineyards. The barrels had to be filled before noon, then in the afternoon they were put in the press. Among Lydia's memories were seeing lots of storks in that part of the country, especially in the fall when they would be gathering to fly south. There were also birds similar to pigeons, blue and green in color, as she recalled. From the Reich house, you went through the village across a big bridge, that was three wagons wide. On Palm Sunday, which was also Confirmation Day, the bridge was decorated with greenery. The church where the family worshipped was big and beautiful with lots of steps in front. Everyone in town was German Lutheran. Throughout the year, memorable programs at church were observed, especially at Christmas. A very cold climate in winter such as was found there, saw people coming all bundled up to church. Invariable, the collection box was placed inside the front door. Just as invariably, the Reich's could be found sitting in the front of the church, as Luisa was hard of hearing, even as a youngster. Across from the church and secluded by it's big iron gates was the residence of Michael Reinke. His was a grand house, with beautiful polished furniture, large rooms and carpets. One room was painted light blue, on which the walls were illustrated with birds, flowers, trees and water; all in natural settings. Wilhelmina was sickly, though not bedridden, needed someone to stay with her, so they adopted Lydia. Michael was a farmer but retired from the actual work because of his age, although he was able to travel a great deal as a circuit Judge. Christmas in Bessarabia was celebrated with great fanfare at the Reinke house, and their house and the church contained the only Christmas trees, since they had to be shipped into town, at great expense. Luisa had four sisters who lived out of town but still made the trip to be with the family. At such festive occasions, sweet treats of all kinds were favorites, such as fancy candies, cookies, nuts and fruits all wrapped in fancy paper with pictures on them, all very special and expensive. Befitting his position in the community, Michael owned a fancy carriage, pulled by horses resplendent and sleek. The horses had to be washed and the harness polished every day by hired hands indicating his wealth and prestige. When the Reichs decided to go to America, Lydia's adoption had to be broken, since Luisa refused to leave without her. Lydia had many mixed feelings about leaving, believing they never had it so good after coming here, but the boys would have been drafted into the Russian Army if they had stayed. After selling his home and furniture, Martin fell on the ice near the Reinke's place then was sent to a special doctor in Alt Elft, his birthplace, and there stayed with his brother. Lydia went along to care for him, changing bandages and so on. He finally recovered enough for the family to leave Russia, but his leg never fully healed and later caused his death. During the ocean voyage, everyone got sick and Lydia felt her mother lost heart and was never her same happy self again. Like many immigrants, the Reich's expected to get free land when they arrived in Odessa, Wa., but all the free land was taken, so they bought three-quarters of a section at Batum, south of Odessa, Wa. Since Martin wasn't well, Otto, his son took over running the farm but he was never able to make a financial success of it. In 1903, Luisa gave birth to Ida (Edith), who was born in Odessa, Wa., bringing the number of children to eight. Martin Reich died in 1907 and his widow, Luisa remarried on February 12, 1909 to Gottfried Knodel. With the combined total of 14 children still living at home they felt forced to let at least one daughter of Gottfried Knodel be raised by Jake Schorzman. They lived near Odessa on the F.J.Lauer ranch until 1925, when they moved to 903 So. 10th Ave., in Yakima, Wa. Luisa Reich Knodel died on 13th of April, 1931, at the age of 66. The funeral was held on 16 April 1931, at Shaw & Webb (which is now Langevin-Mussetter) Funeral Home, with Rev. Nauss presiding. She was buried at the Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima, Wa. [By Delma McLean, a great-granddaughter] -- REITER Many of the Germans from Russia that came to the valley worked in the sugar beets or potatoes working for the large farmers. That is what Fred Reiter did. He was born in Russia in 1897 and came to the the valley about 1930. His wife, Louise, was born in Russia and she and her family came to the U.S. when she was 10 years old, in 1907. He was the son of Fred and Katherine Reiter, and she was the daughter of Gabriel and Regina (Bohyner) Kehl. They were married February 16, 1919 and lived at Laurel, Montana. Their children included Grace (Dixon), Frieda (Maden), Marge (Swinburnson), Ruth (Brown), Melvin, Bill, Harry and Victor Reiter. Fred had three sisters, Mary (Lais), Marie (Bahme) and Mollie (Leach) and a brother, Alex. Mrs. Reiter had four sisters, Mrs. George McCleod, Mrs. Walt Swinburnson, Mrs. George Herrion and Mrs. Melvin Hickok and two brothers, John and Ed Kehl. They were members of the Faith Lutheran Church and are buried at Elmwood Cemetery, Toppenish. Mr. Reiter died August 15, 1968 and Mrs. Reiter May 31, 1981. [Information by Frieda (Reiter) Maden - CFH- By Louise Potter] -- RENKE Marie, listed in the 1910 Yakima County Census. Marie, age 26, servant, was naturalized in 1900. Born in Russia, had five children of which four are living: Robert, age 8, born in Washington; Pauline, age 4, born in Washington; Daniel, age 2, born in Washington; and Amiel, nine months. [1910 Yakima County Census] -- REPP Elizabeth was born in Russia in 1880. At an early age she and her family came to the U.S. and settled in Topeka, Kansas. Later they moved to Endicott, Wa., where she met and married John Repp. She was a charter member of Endicott Lutheran Church. She came to Selah, Wa. in 1970 to live with a daughter. The Central Washington Chapter of AHSGR honored her with a membership in the society in 1978. She died March 18, 1979 at the age of 99. She was survived by two sons, Harry of Tacoma and John of Morton, Wa., her four daughters are Phoebe Hartzell, Amelia Darnold, Lena Hardin and Ella Algeo, a sister, Mrs. Lena Honstead. The funeral was held at Endicott, Wa. She was preceded in death by her husband, who died in 1936. She was also survived by two sons and one grandchild. [YHR] -- RIEDLINGER Adam, born in Odessa, Russia on October 1, 1863. He was the son of William Riedlinger and Katie Helfstein. He with his wife Elizabeth and children immigrated to the U.S. in 1902 and settled first in North Dakota. They came to the Yakima Valley in 1920. Adam died on April 17, 1924 at the age of 60. He was survived by Elizabeth and four children, two sons, Peter and Charles, and two daughters, Bertha Wolfer and Henriette Fraesahle, also two brothers in North Dakota and one in South Dakota, and a sister in Canada. Their son Peter, born in Russia in 1892, came west with his family. He was employed by Cascade Mill and worked later as a mechanist. He died at age 76 on Jan. 25, 1968. Beside his wife, Carolina, he was survived by two daughters; Ella Tallman of Kennewick, Wa., and Elma Brown of Pasadena, Cal; two sons, A.W. (Bill) of Yakima and Herbert of Santa Anna, Cal; and two sisters, Bertha and Henriette. Keith & Keith in charge of funeral arrangements. They are interred in the Tahoma Cemetery. [YHR] -- RIGGINS Elizabeth Catherine (Sak) Riggins, was born October 31,1912 in Simoffka, Russia. She was the daughter of Albert and Anna Marie (Keene) Sak. She was survived by her husband, Paul Riggins, three children, Larry, Kenneth and Barbara Jean, also by two brothers, Val and John Sak. She passed away October 7,1954 at Sunnyside. She was a member of the Catholic faith. [CFH] -- RING Henry, son of Henry Ring and Elizabeth Mills, was born in Dietel, Russia on March 10, 1910. Both of his parents were born at Dietel, Russia. The family immigrated to the U.S. in 1911, arriving at the port of New York. They entered through Ellis Island, June 4, 1911. The family settled at Billings, Montana. A brother to Henry was born there in 1914. Their mother died in 1915, leaving two small boys. Her wish was for her sister Mary to raise Henry who was a small child. A brother, David, died at the age of six (1920). The father remarried. Henry was raised by his Aunt Mary (Mills) and Andrew Koch. They lived in Montana for five years then went to Worland, Wyoming for a time. They moved to the Yakima Valley in 1919. The census of Yakima County 1920 listed Henry under the enumeration of Andrew and Mary Koch. On Sept. 29, 1939 in the U.S. District Court of Yakima, Henry received his Certificate of Naturalization. He went to school in Yakima, and completed high school. Henry married Juanita Camille Roberts on Nov. 2, 1935 at Everett, Wa. She was born January 6, 1918 at Tacoma. She was the daughter of Samuel Taylor Roberts and Elizabeth Stebbins. Henry and Juanita's children are: Richard David, born June 10, 1941 at Yakima, married Mary Jo Bradford; Jerry Lee, born July 13, 1944 at Yakima, married Carol Buchmiller; Donald George, born November 4, 1946 at Yakima, died February 11, 1967 while in the Philippines serving in the U.S. Navy as a communications officer; Bonnie Diana, born May 2, 1949 at Yakima, married Larry Kupp. Henry worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad for 20 years. He then acquired a position with the School District and worked for them for 20 years. Both Henry and Juanita are retired and live in Yakima. Through the years they have enjoyed many travels in the RV and also a cabin in the mountains. They presently attend the Presbyterian Church in Yakima. The home Henry grew up in was a German environment, where the German language was spoken and German food was prepared like the early settlers in Russia. [Information from Henry and Juanita Ring - By Frieda Brulotte] -- RITTER My father, Jacob Ritter, was born August 30, 1874 in Saratov, Russia and died February 10, 1943 at Toppenish, Washington. In May of 1900, he married my mother, Elizabeth Sterling, who was born April 17, 1883 at Gabgoss, Russia, at Saratov. Four children were born in Russia, Jacob, Elizabeth, Phillip and George, the other children were born in the United States, Mollie, Marguerite, Mary, Laura, Amelia, Katherine, Cora, Jacob, Cora, Clara. Dad was in the Russian Army, and, according to his records, served perhaps five years. He made a first trip to the United States in 1895 and returned to Russia where he married my mother in 1900. They immigrated to the United States in 1905-06. They came to the Valley in the early 1920s and he was naturalized in Yakima, October 6, 1941. When they came to the United States, they went to the Denver area where they had friends, perhaps a sister, and then to the valley where friends were located. My dad worked as a farm laborer, working mostly for a Mr. Enbaum in the fruit, and then in the beets for Mr. Hadley, south of Toppenish. We all helped pick fruit and work beets. My father's father was Oswald Ritter and his mother was Emma Bowl. After the death of my dad, mother married Peter Damm in 1945. They were members of the Pentecostal Church in Toppenish. Mother died in 1958. My mother's parents were Henry and Mary Sterling. She evidently had one brother, David; step-sisters, Katherine Ring and Eva Ring; and step-brothers, George Ring and Henry Ring. [Information by Clara (Ritter) Hill - CFH - By Louise Potter] -- ROBERTS Barbara Elizabeth Wingartner, the seventh child to reach adulthood in the Kasimir and Katherine (German/German) Wingerter family, was ten years old when the family immigrated to the United States. They lived at Bowdle, South Dakota, moving to the Yakima Valley where she married Louis James Roberts, August 12, 1912, at Toppenish. They had three children: Louis James, who married Ida Slavin; Barbara Louise, who married Alfred Henry Thiel; and Catherine Elizabeth, who married Andrew Chambers. Mr. Roberts was a farm laborer. Mr. Roberts died in 1917 and in 1925, Barbara married Carl E. Carlson. They had four children: Mary LaVerne, who married Jack Larry Strother; Margaret, who married David Padgham; Carl Richard, who died as an infant; and Charles, who married Bonnie Jo Young. Mr. Carlson was employed for many years by the U & I Sugar Company. She was a seamstress and cook. Mr. Carlson passed away in 1972 and Mrs. Carlson in 1973. [Information by Barbara Wingardner Toop - By Louise Potter] -- RODA Listed in the 1887 Territorial Census of Washington (the territory became a state in 1889). Herman, age 25, farmer, single. Jacob, age 34, also farmer and single. These brothers were born in Russia. [1887 Territorial Census] -- ROETHER Henry, born in Russia on August 8, 1876. His wife, Philomina was born in Russia on September 18, 1880. She was the daughter of Andrew Messer and Margaret Mesma. The Roether's emigrated in 1900 with their infant son, Frank. The settled at Mandan, North Dakota. Later they came to the Yakima Valley, about 1919-21. Besides their son, Frank, they had four more sons. Frank came to the Yakima Valley in 1919. He was employed at the Cascade Mill. He was a member of the Catholic Church. Frank married Dena ?, she was born in South Dakota on April 13, 1902. Frank died September 8, 1974, and his wife Dena died July 1, 1980. She was survived by a step-son, William, and a stepdaughter, Dorothy Seibel, her son, Otto King, and her brother Reuben Yerke. Fred, born in North Dakota on October 8, 1903, died October 1, 1925. He fell beneath a freight train near Eugene, Ore. Michael, single, born March 30, 1905, died May 30, 1938 at Yakima, Wa. Jacob (Jake) Henry born at Mandan, N.D. in 1907 came to Yakima in 1921. Served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He died June 30, 1974. He left a niece and two nephews. Henry died on October 1, 1949 and Philomina died August 18, 1935. [YVGSYHR] -- ROETHER John is listed in the Yakima County 1910 Census: John, age 28, born in Russia. Both of his parents were born in Russia. He was a farmer, and had received his naturalization in 1902. [1910 Yakima County Census] -- ROMMEL / ROMMELL Jacob C. (Jake) born in Russia. He married Lydia Rutt, the daughter of Henry Rutt and Mary Harting, in early 1900 in Russia. She was born on October 22, 1893 in Kolb, Russia. Their education was received as they were growing up in Russia. Jake came to the U.S. in 1912. Lydia came after him, a year later. Prior to living in the Yakima Valley they lived in Colorado and Wyoming. They came to the Valley in 1922. Jake died on July 7, 1965, leaving Lydia, three daughters, and one son. Mary was born in Germany while her mother was enroute to the U.S. to meet Jake in Colorado. She married Albert Huberdeau on April 17, 1950 at Lewiston, Idaho. Mary died July 24, 1976. Lydia was a member of the Deliverance Temple for several years. She enjoyed sewing, quilt-making and gardening. She died November 9, 1986. Her survivors were a son, George of La Puente, Cal, and two daughters, Mrs. Clarence (Rachel) Ogle of Union Gap, and Mrs. Pat (Leah) Reed of Yakima. She is buried in West Hills Memorial Park. [YHR] -- ROMPEL Chris Rompel Family Story - by Ella Rompel Cruse. (Written for the early history of Zillah, Wa.) "Mr. and Mrs. Chris Rompel came from a small farm at Valley Ford, Washington to Zillah in October 1921. They came with their nine children by train. My father was born August 1878 in Germany. My mother, Amelia, nee Kuhn, was born in August, 1885 in Russia and came to the U.S. when she was 13. My father had a new house built and we moved in within a few months. Later, my father went to work for the Sunnyside Irrigation District, from which he retired at the age of 65. He lived in the same house till his death at age 75. My mother passed away in 1925. She had two more children born in Zillah. My brother, Alvin (Fritz) and I still live in the Valley. Three brothers were in the service in WWII. Monte, Art and Alvin. All came back home safely. There are seven surviving children, three girls and four boys. We all were born in the state of Washington. Duddy, born in 1905, married Lennea, both are deceased; Monte, born in 1906, married Grace; Ida, born in 1907, married Raymond Gunnoe; Art, born in 1909, married Rena Collins; Olga, born in 1911, married Mike Backer; Ella, born in 1913, married Orlan Cruse; Clarence, born in 1915, married Lorraine; Esther, born in 1917, died in 1936; Ira, born in 1919, died at 18 months of age; Alvin born in 1922, married Jean; and Diane, born in 1925, married Marion. My oldest brother, Emil, died before we came to Zillah. Alvin, (Fritz) born in Zillah in 1922 was the son of Chris Rompel and Amelia Kuhn. After school in 1942 he played professional baseball with the Cleveland Indians until he entered the Army in 1943. After his discharge from the military in 1946 he again played professional baseball for the Hollywood Stars and later for the Yakima Bears. He died January 1, 1989. He was preceded in death by five brothers and two sisters." -- ROSENOW Dave and Hilda Rosenow - Their story as submitted by Eleanor Bossuot. Dave Rosenow and Hilda Reichert were married in Fort Collins, Colorado on March 2, 1924. Dave was born in Hussenbach, Russia on March 9, 1903. He was the son of Heinrich and Katherine Elizabeth (Sippel) Rosenow. He was baptized into the Evangelical Lutheran Church, as were his two sisters and three brothers. Reverend Maul was the Schulmeister and close friend of the Rosenow family, and was Dave's Godfather. On March 4, 1913, Heinrich, Katherine and their six children boarded the SS Prinz Adalbert in Hamburg, Germany, their final destination would be Greeley, Colorado. Heinrich's brother, Conrad Rosenow lived there. He had a farm where sugar beets were the main crop. This would be the first home of the newly arrived Rosenows. Dave was not yet ten years old. He would celebrate his birthdate on the ship. What should have been an exciting time for a young boy, turned into a painful one for Dave. Many of the passengers were seasick because of the rough waters, Dave was sent for hot water for his mother's tea. On his return, he was pushed aside, and the scalding water spilled on his chest and he was hospitalized. There he would stay with his mother and youngest brother until the burns were healed enough for traveling on to Colorado. His father and the rest of the family had gone on ahead to get settled in their new home. Hilda was born in Saginaw, Michigan to Heinrich and Elizabeth (Reichert) on September 26, 1904. The Reichert's were from Dietel, Russia and came to the United States in the early 1900s. They lived in Lincoln, Nebraska for about ten years before moving to Fort Collins, Colorado. Michigan was experimenting with the raising of sugar beets, and advertised in the adjoining states for experienced help with the cultivating and harvesting of the crop. The sugar beet crops were a failure, and the Reicherts moved back to Nebraska after the birth of their daughter. Heinrich Rosenow was by now established in Colorado, but the attempts at farming were failing. He was the victim of unscrupulous partners in the share crop. They made money - Heinrich did not. The alternative would be to hire himself and his family as farm labor. Heinrich Reichert had a farm where he raised sugar beets, cattle and sheep. The Rosenows worked for the Reicherts on a monthly basis, and it was here that Dave and Hilda met. In 1928, with three children, $50.00, and the good wishes of Hilda's family, the Dave Rosenow's moved to Washington State. Heinrich Rosenow had quit farming, and was in Tacoma, where his oldest son lived. Correspondence from Washington told of plentiful work to be had for everyone. Besides, Heinrich was now 70 years old. He was tired of the back-breaking work in the sugar beet fields. It was time to quit. Dave and Hilda, their children, Richard, Miriam, and Rouine, traveled three days on roads that were less than perfect. But aside from hoses that kept breaking on their old Chevrolet Touring car, the trip from Fort Collins, Colorado to Tacoma, Washington was uneventful. They lived in Tacoma for 12 years. On the second day there, Dave found work at the Union Bag Company, now called St. Regis. The old car had traveled its last miles, and David walked to work. Construction was being done nearby, and Dave applied for work there. He'd had experience in the construction trade, in 1924 he helped build the sugar beet factory in Sidney, Montana. Dave was hired and after the building was complete he stayed on. His job was working with the air compressors at first, and later would learn refrigeration by checking out books from the Library and studying nights. He worked at Hookers Electrical-Chemical Company for 12 years. When he left Hookers, he was in charge of all tank cars that left the facility. (Years later. when the supervisor was invited to Dave and Hilda's Fiftieth wedding anniversary, Dave was offered his old job back at Hookers. He refused.) When he left in 1942, he was their Chief Refrigeration Engineer. Dave's family continued to grow. By 1941, they had four boys and five girls: Maurice, Eleanor, Carolyn, Allan, Geraldine, and Ronald. All were born in Tacoma. Their names added to the family Bible. War between the U.S. and Japan was raging, and air raids were a common thing. Homes nearest the schools were designated as air-raid shelters, and the Rosenow home was one. Japanese farms were being sold, and Dave was interested in getting back to farming. Dave bought a small truck farm in Auburn, Washington, where lettuce, pole-beans, celery, spinach and carrots were grown. Food rationing was in full force, and Dave was able to feed his family of nine with little worry for their well being. When work on the farm was done, they were able to visit relatives in Wapato. Elizabeth Pister and Hilda were sisters, and the visits to Wapato were enjoyable. Dave liked the Yakima Valley. The weather was more like they had in Colorado. On one visit, he heard of a place on the Jones Road in Wapato, and after talking it over with his wife, decided to take it. He would have a small herd of milk cows and raise sugar beets. Arrangements were made, and the move took place in 1944. In a year or so, Dave wanted a bigger place and went to the Indian Agency in Toppenish, Washington and inquired into the leasing of land from them. He leased a farm on Lateral C and the Fort Road, 3 miles from Harrah. He set up a Grade A dairy, selling the milk to the Yakima Creamery. In addition to the herd of 200 Holstein cows, he leased more land in Brownstown and grew sugar beets, clover seed, mint, alfalfa and corn. Work on the dairy was done by the clock. Each year the Rosenows came from Tacoma and Portland to Yakima for the annual family picnic. It was usually held at Sportsmans Park, but the time always revolved around the cow's schedule. Vacations were unheard of, and it was without fail, when Dave and Hilda had a chance to visit someone, things always went wrong. Three more children were born, and with the additions of Gary, Stephen and Michael, Dave and Hilda had 12 children now. Wintertime meant ice skating on Charley's Pond on the corner of the Fort Road and Lateral C. Nobody skated well, the skates really didn't fit, but there were no complaints. Neighborhood kids gathered there, a bonfire was lit, and after awhile you'd walk home with frozen hands and feet. The excitement of Charley's Pond was the mystery of it's reputation. It was said that Charley's Pond had no bottom in places, and bodies that had drowned there were never given up. All the kids believed it. Our parents said so. It must be true. In 1955, the Bureau of Reclamation opened up the Columbia Basin to irrigation. Nobody had ever heard of Moses Lake, but Dave was interested. The cows had demanded every waking minute of his time, and it was time to quit the dairy business. Most of the kids were gone now, or soon would be. Only four were still in school, and it would be a good time to investigate this new land development. They moved to Moses Lake in 1957. They got a place in the Cascade Valley, and the boys entered school. Dave farmed the first few years in Moses Lake, and in 1968, got a job at Carnation Foods in Othello, Washington. He was in charge of the refrigeration cars that sent french fried potatoes all over the United States. He was back working at the same job he had when they arrived in Tacoma, Wa., some 40 years before. Dave retired in 1965, and spent his days tinkering in his shop, whether it was inventing a new tool, or just teaching his sons and grandsons the art of mechanics. With the marriages of their children, they now had a large gathering on holidays. The traditional Easter breakfast continued, with the whole family around the table, eating 'revil kuchen' with their eggs and ham. Dave died on November 9, 1979 he was 76 years old. Hilda continued to live in their home until ill health forced her to move to Moxee, Washington, where she lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Eleanor & Ron Bossuot. She died on August 11, 1988. She was 83 years. Their daughter, Miriam, died on March 5, 1988. She suffered from a rare incurable heart disease. On August 28, 1988, Miriam's husband, Clarence Corbin, died at their home in Yakima of a massive heart attack. Just 17 days after Hilda died. Dave and Hilda Rosenow had 12 children. Each of their sons served in the military service: ranging from World War II, and the occupation of Japan, through the Korean conflict, up to and including the Vietnam war; defending the country the Heinrich Rosenow family adopted 75 years before. Dave and Hilda are together again. They rest side by side at the Pioneer Memorial Gardens in Moses Lake, Washington. -- ROTH Anna Marie Roth was born in Walter, Russia December 16, 1876 and died at Toppenish December 29, 1950. She had lived 16 years at 225 South G Street, in Toppenish and had lived in the valley since 1910. She was a member of the German Evangelical Church. Rev. Charles Warber had her service. She was survived by the following children: Jacob Roth of Wapato; John, Daniel and Christie Roth of Toppenish; Henry, Jr., of Outlook; Mrs. Dorothy Fuqua, Yakima; Mrs. Katherine Carman, Wapato; and Mrs. Marie Flett of Benton City. [CFH] -- ROTH David, born October 14, 1866 in Russia. He married Dorothea Kober, daughter of John Kober and Mary Waxmath. She was born October 11, 1872 in Russia. When they immigrated to the U.S. they had a son, David, Jr., born November 22, 1901. They settled in Billings, Montana in 1908-09. Their son, David, Jr., was married to Elizabeth Herman on January 7, 1923. She was the daughter of George Herman and Katherine Neubaugher. Elizabeth was born in Russia on March 10, 1905. She and David were members of the Lutheran Church in Wapato, later at Toppenish. Their son, John, was born in Russia, August 12, 1907. He died March 11, 1932. Their daughter, Sophia (Holm) was born in Billings, Montana, September 20, 1909 and daughter Marie (Foster), July 3, 1912, also at Billings. Mr. Roth died May 25, 1946, Mrs. Roth November 28, 1935 at Toppenish. Mrs. Roth lived in the state 18 years prior to her death. Mr. Roth lived in the state 25 years prior to his death. Mr. Roth was a laborer and they were members of the German Lutheran Church, Rev. Guiswinkler had Mrs. Roth's service and Rev. Mau had the funeral for Mr. Roth. They are buried in Elmwood Cemetery at Toppenish. [HLC/DFH/CFH] -- ROTH David Roth, Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth (Herman) Roth, were also born in Russia, he November 22, 1901 and she March 10, 1905. David Roth, Jr. was the son of David and Dorothy (Koker) Roth. Mrs. Roth was the daughter of George and Katherine (Neubaugher) Herman. The Roth's were married in Toppenish January 7, 1923 at the Faith Lutheran Church. Mr. Roth was a foreman for the U & I Sugar Company and had lived in Toppenish since 1919, coming here from Montana. They were survived by the following children: Donald, Gerald, William and Robert Roth and Helen Neisz. Mr. Roth was survived by four sisters, Mrs. Alex Kober, Mrs. Ralph Holm, Mrs. Marie Foster and Mrs. Richard Hilberry. His brother, John, died March 11, 1932 at Toppenish. Mrs. Roth, who died June 20, 1979, was also survived by two brothers, Jacob and Harry Herman and Mrs. Dorothy Amos and Mrs. Mary Strait, all of the Yakima Valley. Mr. Roth passed away January 2, 1964. They were members of the Faith Lutheran Church and are buried at Elmwood Cemetery. [CFH/YHR] -- ROTH Dorothy, born on February 1, 1908 in Odessa, Russia. She came to the U.S. at the age of two with her parents. They settled in the town of Odessa, Washington. The family moved to the Yakima Valley in 1914. Her father was Henry Roth. Dorothy, married Alvise Fuqua, who was born in Baldwin, Arkansas on May 9, 1902. He moved to Yakima in 1922, and worked as a building contractor. They were members of Central Lutheran Church. After his retirement from construction he went to work for Skookum Bowl as a mechanic. Dorothy had been an active bowler for many years and held a lifetime membership in the Women's International Bowling Congress. Dorothy preceded Al in death. She died January 25, 1980. Al passed away May 29, 1980. They were the parents of one daughter, Mrs. Joseph (Verne) Schembrie. Dorothy left three brothers, Chris, Daniel and Henry, all of Toppenish, Wa. [YHR] -- ROTH Henry Roth was born August 12, 1903 at Odessa, Russia to Henry and Anna (Wickman) Roth. When he was a child he moved to Odessa, Washington with his family, later moving to the Yakima Valley where he made his home in Toppenish for 65 years. He worked as a meat packer before retiring in 1968. He was an avid fisherman. He was survived by one son, James Roth, three daughters, Sally Ashelman, Mary Ella Bangs and Lily Huff. Also two brothers, Chris and Daniel Roth. Mr. Roth died January 1, 1986. [YHR] -- ROTH Jacob, born in Walter, Russia on February 12, 1883 to Henry and Anna Marie Roth. When they immigrated to the U.S. they came first to Odessa, Washington then to the Yakima Valley in 1921. They lived at Wapato, attended the Hope Lutheran Church. He and Elizabeth Fox were married on March 25, 1923. She was born in Odessa, Russia on September 6, 1904. Her family moved to Wapato when she was a young child. Her parents were Conrad and Eva Fox. Jacob/Jake and Elizabeth lived the rest of their lives in the Yakima Valley. He died December 30, 1971. His survivors were, his wife, two sons and one daughter. Sons: Clarence and Albert. Daughter, Mrs. John (Betty) Gregg. Three brothers: Henry, born in Russia August 12, 1903, died January 2, 1986. Chris and Daniel of Toppenish, a sister Mrs. Al (Dorothy) Fuqua, she was born in Russia Feb. 1, 1908 and died January 25, 1980. Elizabeth died April 14, 1974. Besides her children she left four sisters: Mrs. Leonard Burgayne, Mrs. Jack Hepner, Lydia Weitzel and Mrs. Harold Prince and five brothers, Conrad, Harvey, Jake, Sam and Victor Fox. Merritt Funeral Home in charge of both Jake's and Elizabeth's funeral arrangements. Both interred in the Reservation Community Park. [MFH/YHR] -- ROTH John Roth was born in Walter, Russia, August 20, 1896 and died in Toppenish December 17, 1956. He was the son of Henry and Anna Marie (Wickman) Roth. He had lived in the valley 26 years and was a laborer. He was survived by the following brothers; Jake, Henry, Christie, and Daniel, and three sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Fuqua, Mrs. Kathryn Carman and Mrs. Marie Flett. [CFH] -- ROTH John/Johannes, born in Walter, Russia on June 9, 1900 to Jacob Roth, born June 8, 1875 and Katherine Magdelina Hill born Feb. 21, 1873, both in the village of Walter. To them were born in Walter, a son Jacob, 1895, died in 1902. Three more children: Elizabeth on January 25, 1898; John, June 9, 1900; and Conrad, Feb. 26, 1902. They were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, where all were baptized and confirmed. They immigrated to the U.S. in 1903, arriving on June 13, 1903 on the S.S. August Victoria to New York from Hamburg, Germany. They travelled on to Walla Walla, Washington. There they stayed the rest of their lives. The children born to them in Walla Walla were: Katherine, on July 3, 1904, married Christian Schoessler; Frederick, on January 5, 1907, married Edith Lucille McGrath; Reinhold, born August 30, 1909, married Mary Gaylord; Infant on March 27, 1912, died day after birth; Caroline, born Sept. 16, 1917, married George Langdon Hott, she died April 3, 1975. John was raised and educated at Walla Walla. He moved to Yakima in 1934, and married Lucretia (Patty) Shelby in 1943. He was an employee of Western Union for 46 years. A member of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. He died March 2, 1985, and is interred at West Hills Memorial Park west of Yakima. He left his wife and two brothers. [Information obtained from family charts from John's Obituary - By Frieda Brulotte] -- ROTHARMEL/ROTHERMEL David, born in Russia, September 14, 1871. His parents were John and Catherine Rotharmel of Alexandorf, Russia. He married Anna Boetcher in 1913. They immigrated to Canada with their three sons, John, David and Alexander. During the years in Canada a daughter, Marie was born. The next move this family made was to North Dakota, from there to Colorado, then a stay in Montana. While in Montana, their son, William was born, the move to Yakima Valley was in 1920. David soon found work as well as the oldest boys. They were able to buy a home before long, located at 15th Avenue and Mead Avenue n Yakima. John, one of the boys, was born in Alexandorf, Russia, June 10, 1894. With his family he settled with them in the Yakima Valley, where he met his future wife, Marie Sterkel/Staerkel of Wapato. She was the daughter of John Sterkel. John was born in Norka, Russia, July 10, 1865. He left Russia in 1896 with sisters and their husbands. While on board the ship traveling to America his sisters helped him get acquainted with Katherine Schaefer. It was during this crossing that he and Katherine were married. They settled in Kearney, Nebraska. It was in Kearney that Marie was born on August 9, 1900. Other children born to the Sterkel's in Kearney were, Mollie, George and William. From Kearney the Sterkel's moved to Colorado. John had a sister in Longmont, Colorado and a sister in Greeley, Colorado. He with his family soon moved on to Montana and hearing of the Yakima Valley moved there. He acquired work with the Northern Pacific Railroad, they provided him with a "bunkhouse" in which they lived for many years. John died on September 2, 1951. John Rotharmel and Marie Sterkel were married on April 22, 1923 in Wapato. He too went to work for the railroad and also was provided a small house near his father-inlaw. In Wapato they became members of the Hope Lutheran Church, in which they took an active part. He also received his naturalization in the 1930s. He quit his job with the railroad and for about three years tried his luck at farming. Gave that up and went to work for the Wapato Irrigation Project. It was then they moved into a house on South Camas Avenue in Wapato, a house that John Sterkel had built. To John and Marie was born a son, Elmer on March 25, 1924. Then a daughter, Virginia, on January 12, 1926. Both of the children have married and live in the area. On June 26, 1957 John died and that same year Marie died, November 9, 1957. [Information from Elmer Rotharmel - By Frieda Brulotte] -- ROTHARMEL David, born in Russia on April 5, 1864. His wife Anna Katherine was also born in Russia in 1866. (The early story of this couple is not known.) They came to the Yakima Valley in the 1920s. He lived to the age of 69. He died December 26, 1933. His wife Anna, was 79 years old when she died after a long illness, September 22, 1945. Her survivors were: Marie Liebholz, sons, Jake, Alexander, David, and William. Also a brother, David Boetcher and a sister, Marie Schimp. Shaw & Sons were in charge of funeral arrangements. [Shaw & Sons] -- RUFF Alex Sr., born January 27, 1884 in Kolb, Russia (near the Volga River). Alex was married in Russia to Mary Elizabeth Meyer, who was born January 6, 1885 in Kolb, Russia. This union produced eight children. The four oldest were born in Russia. They were, Molly, Lydia, Pauline and Mary Kay (who died in Ritzville, Wa. when young). The family came to the U.S. in 1913 and settled in Ritzville, Wa. where they lived one year. Then they lived at Cunningham and 10 years at Lind. In 1928, they came to the Yakima Valley, settling in Wapato, Wa. The four youngest children were born in the U.S. they were Alex Ruff, Jr., Gloria, Victor and Godfrey. The second child, Lydia Ruff lives in Yakima at the present time and also Gloria. Alex Sr., died August 19, 1958 in Yakima and is buried at Tahoma Cemetery. His wife, Mary Elizabeth Meyer Ruff died July 28, 1945. Alex Ruff, Jr. was born April 8, 1914 at Ritzville, Wa. He married Martha Marie Lapp, born November 10, 1919, at Golden Valley, N.D. She was the daughter of Martin Lapp and Sophia Mittlesteadt. Alex Jr., and Martha Marie Lapp are the parents of Arvid Eugene and Diana Fay Sevier. After many years of owning and operating a fruit ranch in Naches, Wa., they are now retired in Yakima. [Information from Gene Lapp - By Frieda Brulotte] -- RUTH John Peter, known mostly as Peter, was born in Kolb, Russia on December 16, 1887. His father was John Ruth and his mother was Katherine Miller, both born in Russia. Peter married Anna M. Uhrich, daughter of John Uhrich and Katherine Kachter. Anna was born January 5, 1888. They immigrated to the U.S. in 1909. They settled in Tacoma, Wa. In Tacoma he worked in the building industry and became a building contractor. In the year 1931, he with his family left Tacoma and came to the Yakima Valley. He changed his occupation to farming. He soon bought land and built a brick house. To Peter and Anna was born one son, Edward, four daughters, Alvina, Clara, Olinda and Mildred. All born in Tacoma. They joined the Pilgrim Congregational Church in which Peter took on the task of leadership. Anna joined the Ladies Aid Society of the church. The last few years of Anna's life her health became poor, she died on August 23, 1964. Her birth place was Frank, Russia. Peter died March 6, 1969 after a stay of two years at the Mountain Vista Nursing Home in Toppenish. Peter and Anna are buried in the Reservation Community Memorial Park located west of Wapato, Wa. [MFH] -- RUTZ John Rutz was born in north Russia and served four years in the Russian Army. He came to the United States in 1912 and to Yakima in 1937. He was a retired Del Monte employee. He was a member of the Central Assembly of God Church in Yakima. His first wife, Elizabeth, was the mother of his six children; Esther (Sander), Rebecca (Pauley), Frieda (Sundquist), John, Reinhold, and Edward Rutz. She was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Toppenish. She passed away in 1966. They were divorced. Mr. Rutz was survived by his wife, Katherine, two sons and three daughters. Katherine had two daughters by her previous marriage, Emma Benz, of North Dakota, and Inez Renz of Seattle. Mr. Rutz passed away October 9,1972. [CFH/YHR] -- SACKMAN Andrew, was born in Leba, Russia. He immigrated to Canada with his parents on May 10, 1907. They came across on the S.S. Westerland. He came to the U.S. to Washington State. He was naturalized at Davenport, Wa., by agent Julius Simmons. He married Elizabeth Schwartz, who immigrated from Russia on November 13, 1900 on the Kaiser Welholes, through Port of Grosse. She also received her naturalization at Davenport, Wa., the agent was F. Mitzler. They moved to the Yakima Valley in the early 1900s. Their oldest son, Robert, was born at Granger, Wa., on January 23, 1923. Another son, Ernie was born October 2, 1925. The Sackman family were farmers. They were members of Hope Luthran Church at Wapato. They did not stay in the Yakima Valley. [Information from Robert Sackman Family - By Frieda Brulotte] -- SAK Albert, born October 8, 1891 in Semenouka, Russia (of the German Volga River Region in Russia). Albert was the son of John Sak and Elizabeth Schwaab. He married Anna Kuchn in Russia in 1910. They moved from Russia to Portland, Oregon in 1912, then to the Toppenish area in 1919. He worked as a foreman for Mt. Arbor Nursery for many years. He was the first tree grafter in the Yakima Valley. He developed the process for preserving the Chinese Elm seeds to be later shipped to other parts of the country for raising trees for windbreak. He gave the processing technique to Mt. Arbor Nursery. He owned and operated his own nursery. He grafted until he was 84 years old. They were members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Toppenish. He was active in the Knights of Columbus since 1920. He was a member of the St. Aloysius Church in Toppenish and spent many hours working on the grounds and building upkeep. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anna, in 1985. Also a daughter preceded him, Elizabeth (Mrs. Paul Riggins). She was born in Russia on October 31, 1912 in Semenouka. She died October 7, 1954. Albert died at the age of 98 on November 8, 1989. Two sons survive him. Val Sak and wife Ellen of Toppenish, and John Sak and wife, Elaine of Zillah. Valley Hills Mortuary of Zillah held the burial service at St. Aloysius Church and internment at Elmwood Cemetery at Toppenish. [YHR/TR] -- SCHAAL Chris T., born in Romania in 1899. The Schaal's immigrated to the U.S. and settled in Colorado in 1908. The year they came to Washington was 1937, settling at Whitstran, Wa. Later they moved to Wapato. They retired from farming in 1957 and moved to the city of Yakima. They attended the Assembly of God Church. After his retirement he had been helping out with part-time farming with his nephew, Emil Schaal of Wapato. Chris died on December 14, 1970. He left his wife, Emma, three sons, George and Chester of Yakima, Alvin of Portland, Ore., three daughters, Eileen of Yakima, Fern Williams of Goldendale, and Roberta Meeks of Tacoma, and nephew, Emil. Chris is buried in West Hills Memorial Park at Yakima. [YHR] -- SCHAAL Edward Schaal, the son of Matt Schaal and Eva Baltzer, who were both born in Russia, died August 25, 1956. He was born September 2O, 1893 in Bethine, Colorado. He had lived in the state 25 years. [MM] -- SCHAAL John George, born in Russia on December 19, 1887. He was the son of George Schaal and Caroline Debbler. He was married. John died on July JO, 1962. He is buried in the Reservation Memorial Park in Wapato. [MFH] -- SCHAFER Phillip, son of Johann Jacob Schafer and Katherine Maragret Jesse. Phillip was born in Grimm, Russia on August 12, 1886. He and Katharene (Katcha) Margaretha Kreil were married on October 1, 1908 in Russia. She was the daughter of Johann Fredrich Kreil and Anna Katherine Schneider. They were members of the Lutheran Church. Born to them in Grimm was their son, Paul, February 22, 1910. A son, Alex, was born June 25, 1911, he died in 1912 before the family left Russia. They arrived at Baltimore, Maryland June 13, 1912. The first stop for them was at Walla Walla, Wa. where Phillip worked as a laborer. While at Walla Walla, a son, Victor, was born, December 26, 1912. Before long they moved to Portland, Or. where Phillip worked in a furniture factory. They stayed there for four or five years then moved to Montana. While in Portland their daughter Hilda was born. At Billings, Montana they farmed, later moving to Forsyth and also to Hardin, Montana. They returned to Portland for a year and in 1940 came to the Yakima Valley where they farmed in the vicinity of the McKinley School, located west of Toppenish. In 1943 he bought a farm at Ashue, the old Gibson place. After a few years ill health caused him to retire from the farm in 1947. Once again they moved to Walla Walla but stayed only three years then returned to the Yakima Valley where they lived the rest of their lives. Phillip and Katharena were members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato during the years they lived in the valley. He received his citizenship November 5, 1931 at Hardin, Big Horn County, Montana. Katharena received hers on May 5, 1942 while living west of Toppenish. Hers was through the Eastern District Court of Washington. Their oldest son, Paul, married Marie Mehling on January 5, 1931. Victor married Martha Fries, February 19, 1939 at Hardin, Montana. They moved to Toppenish where he was employed by the U & I Sugar Co. In 1947 he moved to Wapato and farmed until the time of his death June 17, 1987. Hilda, born in Portland, Oregon, September 26, 1914, married Frederick Benzel June 17, 1933. Robert, born June 4, 1917 at Billings, Montana. He was 20 years of age when he was killed in a car accident at Hardin, Montana. August, born January 13, 1919 at Billings. He moved with his parents to the Yakima Valley in 1940. He married Frances Elizabeth Uffelman, July 12, 1941. He went into the military service from which he retired. Minnie Katherine, born May 2, 1921 at Forsyth, Montana. She married Dave Fries December 22, 1938. Dave was born May 22, 1914 at McCook, Nebraska. His parents were Jacob Fries and Anna Elizabeth Leis (they were from Hussenbach, Russia). Dave was a farmer and also worked in the fruit warehouses. They had two sons and two daughters. Dave died August 25, 1975. Minnie married a second time, Dwight Lyman Souers, who was born August 8 1906, died February 26, 1986. Minnie resides at Wapato and is a member of the local Chapter, AHSGR. Arthur, born May 14, 1923 at Hardin, Montana, moved with his parents as a teenager. He married Geraldine Rutledge September 4, 1945. Arthur died March 13, 1965. Edward born at Hardin, Montana, April 20, 1925, married Dorothy Hofferber, August 30, 1946, they reside at Toppenish. Phillip and Katharena moved to Yakima, their final move. They were members of the Grace Lutheran Church. He died November 23, 1963 of a stroke and Katharena died August 13, 1970. Both are buried in the Reservation Memorial Park at Wapato. [Information from Minnie Katherine Souer, by Frieda Brulotte] -- SCHAFFNER Andrew R., born in Russia March 8, 1831. His wife Amelia, nee Bilke, born in Russia in 1844. They are listed in the early obituary records. They were early settlers in the Yakima Valley is evident by the dates. Andrew, died on December 25, 1891 at the age of 60. Amelia lived to the age of 90 years. She died March 11, 1934. They are both buried in the Tahoma Cemetery at Yakima, Washington. [YVGS] -- SCHAFFNER John, born in southern Russia in 1888. He came to the U.S. with family in 1908 and settled in North Dakota. He farmed in both North and South Dakota. He married Katherine Merlinger in 1914. She was born in 1894 in Strasburg, N.D. They came to the Yakima Valley from Linton, N.D. in 1936. He went to work as a blacksmith and carpenter. John died on May 4, 1970. He was survived by his wife Katherine, six sons and seven daughters. Also a brother, Ralph, of Mt. Angel, Oregon. The Schaffner's had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They were members of St. Paul Cathedral of Yakima. Katherine died January 23, 1972. Their children were: Peter of Cleveland, Ohio; Anton of Sacramento, Cal; Piius of Anchorage, Alaska; Frank of Newberg, Oregon; Michael of Lebanon, Oregon; Emmanuel of San Jose, California (deceased); Mary Watford, of Frostproof, Florida; Helen Albin of Alameda, Cal; Katherine Johnson of Battleground, Wa.; Regina Hutchcraft of King City; Agnes Brennan of Riverside, Cal; Annie Coleman of Tacoma, Wa.; Penny Purvis of Anchorage, Alaska. Katherine's brothers are Ingamar Merlinger of Rapid City, S.D. and Michael Merlinger of Riverside, Ca. Her five sisters are Rachel Cline, Elizabeth Bachmeier, Lena Cline, Cecelia All and Martha Silvernagle. Both John and Katherine are buried in Tahoma Cemetery. [YHR] -- SCHAIBLE John born September 5, 1880 in Russia, his parents were Christian Schaible and Katherine Oelke. He married Fredericka Kraft, she was born in Bessarabia, Romania, on January 28, 1881. Her parents were Jacob and Juliana Kraft. They lived in the lower Yakima Valley, she died March 16, 1953 and her husband, John, on July 2, 1967. Both are buried in the Old Sunnyside Cemetery. [YVGS] -- SCHANZENBACH The story of Jacob and Lydia Schanzenbach as told by their daughter, Erna (Schanzenbach) Becker. Jacob Daniel Schanzenbach was born June 1, 1885 in Gluckstahl, South Russia. His parents were Daniel Schanzenbach and Rosina Schaidt. He came to the United States with his family in April of 1888 at the age of three years. They landed in New York City, N.Y. On the ship coming over he was lost for three days. He had been well cared for in the captains cabin and was finally reunited with his parents. After processing through immigration, the family went immediately to the northern part of South Dakota where they had relatives. Within a very short time the father applied for naturalization and the family was also naturalized as citizens at that time. The first school in their immediate area was in the summer kitchen of the Schanzenbach's. The teacher recognized that Jacob was an exceptional student and she arranged for him to go to live in nearby Selby, So. Dakota and work in the store there while attending school. He completed education through the eighth grade in just two years. He was probably around 16 when he finished his schooling. He hated farming and never did go back to it. Jacob met Lydia Schanzenbach (a distant relative) daughter of John Schanzenbach and Magdalena Lippert. She was born November 18, 1893 at Eureka, South Dakota. She was self-taught and could read and write English. They were married in 1911 in South Dakota. There were ten children born to them: Erna, born January 5, 1913 in Alaska, S.D., married Robert Becker; Max, born Feb. 5, 1918 at Selby, S. D.; Eileen, born March 22, 1920 at Selby; Leo born May 22, 1922 at Selby; twins, Wilton and Milton were born at Bowdle, March 9, 1924; Lucille born July 7, 1928 at Bowdle; Roland born July 1, 1931 at Eureka, S.D. (died Sept. 14, 1982); Herbert born Sept. 25, 1933 at Eureka, S.D.; Mahlon born Jan. 26, 1936 at Wapato, Wa. Jacob had a goal to give all his children a good education so they would not have to work at farming if they did not want to. Most of his children went on to college. While in South Dakota, Jacob owned grocery stores and cream stations. Cream stations were where farmers brought their cream in for testing for butter content. Jacob paid the farmers for the butter content and then sent the cream on to the creameries. His store was the local spot for gathering and sharing news. During the depression and the severe droughts in the 1930s, Jacob became discouraged and decided to move to the Yakima Valley where friends lived. So, in June of 1935 they came to the valley in one car. Jacob, Lydia and eight children came in the 1928 Dodge car that Erna owned. On their first day on the road they had three flat tires on their trailer which held their clothes and other belongings. Erna had been a teacher in South Dakota earning big money of $50.00 a month. Their first months here were spent in the Ahtanum area. They worked in the hops, peaches, thinning apples and other farm work. Jacob soon got a job with a Yakima creamery and was given a route. In November of 1935 they moved to Wapato, Wa. Within a few months of moving to Wapato, Jacob opened a cream station and in time it grew into a grocery store. Lydia, mainly spent her time being a housewife and mother, but once tried to help out in the store. However, they agreed to disagree and she never helped out again. She was a good seamstress. She was proud of her children. She made all the clothes over from hand-me- downs. She worked after the kids were in bed. She also had one of the nicest gardens in her neighborhood. Their church affiliation was the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. Jacob passed on to eternal life in 1963, and Lydia joined him in 1964. -- SCHEER-GLATT Michael Scheer of Scherrhim, Alsace, the wagon master, led the first two transports of about 50 families. These families settled in Strassburg and Selz settlements of the Kutschurgan Colonies in Russia. Also coming with him were Joseph Scheer, Cloud Scheer and wife, Sabina Klein, and three sons, Joseph, Peter and Sebastian. (Cloud Scheer died before 1812 and Sabina remarried a Maston and settled at Selz.) A forefather, John Scheer, 43 years old, born in 1773 in Germany, arrived in Russia, June 14, 1808, with his wife, Margaretha and one daughter. They settled in the Kutschurgan Colonies, made up of six settlements, Baden, Elsass, Kandel, Manheim, Selz and Strassburg, about 40 miles northwest of Odessa. John and Margaretha's children were: Magdaline; Marianna; Michael, born 1810, there is no record of his wife's name, they had four children, one was Michael; Adam, born 1837, died 1871, married Katherine Masset, they had four children (Joseph and Aloysia were two of them); Wendelin. Adam's son, Joseph, was born 1858, died March 12, 1935. Married Christina Leiblenaer, she was born in 1855 in Strassburg, died 1936. Both died in Linton, North Dakota. Their children were: Christina; Kasper; Nick; Michael; Julia; and Jacob. Joseph's son, Nick, born in Strassburg, Russia, 1886. He could not remember the date of his birth so when he married he took his wife's date, December 12, 1886. He came to the United States in 1904, he was 18 years old, he lived in North and South Dakota. He married Caroline Glatt, born December 12, 1887 in New York, daughter of Michael and Katherine Faith Glatt. Michael Glatt from Kandel, married Katherine (Hopfinger) Seizer. Her first husband, Jacob Seizer, was in the Russian Army and died at 34 years of age. She had a son, Casper, who also was in the Russian Army. They had three children, Michael, Anton, and Rosalea. His second wife was Katherine Valler, she had two children, Kasper and a daughter. They had six children. He married a third time, a Russian woman from across the Driestic River. There were 12 children in the Faith family, six came to America, the six that remained in Russia were killed by the Russians, who drove them to the Black Sea where they were shot, a fire was then set on the brush and the people were burned to death. A witness from Estevan, Canada, revealed this. Mr. Hagen crawled to the edge of the woods and survived all this. All males and even a little child, were killed. Women were captured and made slaves, to cook and keep house for the Russians. The man crawled for miles and got to Norwegian country where he was found. The people helped him, fed and clothed him, also kept him hidden. Eventually he went to England and then to Canada. The Faith family was from Selz. Michael Glatt, son of Michael and Katherine (Hopfinger) Seizer Glatt, married Katherine Faith in 1883. She was born in Odessa, Russia, and 19 years of age at the time of her marriage. Michael Glatt was 21 years old. When they came to America they had one daughter, Katherine, born July 25, 1884. They also brought his brother, Anton, and sister, Rosalea, with them because his Russian stepmother was so mean to them. They stayed in New York for a while where Katherine Faith Glatt did housework. She was a very good seamstress in New York. When they realized she could sew, by seeing her sew on two buttons, she no longer had to do housework. Michael Glatt did hard labor for the town. They temporarily lived in Chicago (Milwaukee), then went to Aberdeen, South Dakota, then Ipswich and Hague and homesteaded June of 1887. The farm is still owned by someone in the family. Their children were: Katherine, born July 25, 1884 in Russia, she had three husbands, John Feist, Steve Holzer and Alfonse Theile, she died in Sunnyside, Washington February 20, 1976; Caroline, December 21, 1887, New York; Joseph, November 11, 1889, died February 25, 1961; Michael, December 1, 1891, died November 29, 1979; Johanna, October 31, 1893, died February 22, 1974; Ludwig, April 28, 1896, died November 20, 1971; Lambert, July 24, 1898, died March 19, 1956; Julia, October 1, 1900, died November 7, 1985; Frank, July 7, 1906; died March 8, 1964; Eva, April 20, 1904. The last eight were born in the Dakotas. Children born to Nicholas and Caroline Glatt Scheer were: Jacob, September 7, 1910, died February 10,1975; Katherine, December 5, 1912, a nun, Sister Alice, presently living in Mexico; Elizabeth, December 14, 1914, married Mr. Roberts; Margaret, November 3, 1917, married Mr. Rabie; Frank, September 11, 1919, died February 10, 1986; Johanna, November 22, 1922, died May 9, 1937; Michael, May 3, 1924; Mary, July 6, 1926, married Mr. Gale; Eva, September 2, 1928, married Mr. Mieras; Clara Ann, March 17, 1931, married Mr. Lambert; and Julia, May 18, 1933. All children were born in the Dakotas. The family moved to Sunnyside October 1935. They settled in Green Valley, moving to Prosser in 1937 where they farmed, raising sugar beets, grain and oats. Nicholas died April 30, 1964, Caroline died July 29, 1972. Both are buried in the Prosser Cemetery. [The above information was taken from a book written about the Scheer family and from a letter written by Eve Glatt. Given to Bernice Elledge from Michael Scheer.] -- SCHELERT My dad, Albert Schelert was 92 years of age when he passed away at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Yakima. He had spent the last few years of his life in my home. Dad loved the land, he had spent almost all of his life farming. He farmed in North Dakota and Montana before coming to the Yakima Valley where he farmed northwest of Toppenish. He raised tomatoes which we packed and sold to a produce company in Wapato. Dad was born in Volhynia, Russia, April 23, 1895, he was the son of Edward and Albertina (Lou) Schelert. He immigrated to the United States in 1909 with his family. In 1924, he married Lydia Fauth in North Dakota. They moved to Glasgow, Montana where he farmed until they moved to the valley. My parents had 14 children, Magdalina (Franzen), Albert, Theophiel, Issack, Edward, Rudolph, Joseph, Martha (Schlenker), Henry, Edwin, Gertha (Schlenker), Linda (Rabe), Mary (Schlenker), and Sharon (Cory). When mother passed away in 1957, dad sold the farm and moved to town. In 1967 he married Barbara Weible, she passed away in 1972. They were members of the Church of God Seventh Day of which dad was an Elder. Mother's parents were Phillip and Dorthea (Reiger) Fauth from Neidorf and Kassel, Russia. Mother was born June 3, 1902 near Medina, North Dakota. My grandmother, Dorthea (Rieger) Fauth, came to Washington State in her latter years to be near her children and lived with various ones until the time of her death. She was born in Russia in 1867 and died in 1954. Her father was Ambrose Rieger. She was a member of the Church of God Seventh Day. Pastor Heuer had the service for her. She had ten children, John, Theothiel, Benjamin, Emanuel, Phillip, Jacob, Samuel, Elizabeth (Fuhrman), Lydia (Schelert) and Mary (Lang). Barbara and her first husband, George Weible, had eleven children, Edith (Olmstead), Kathryn (Olmstead), Elsie (Hogue), Arlene (Zahler), Emma (Bertch), Barbara (Stevens), Esther (Weber), Ruth (Hale), August, Albert and Elmer Weible. She was born in Russia, the daughter of Israel and Susie (Moser) Hildenbrand. [CFH/by Martha (Schelert) Schlenker] -- SCHELL Albert George Schell was born April 17, 1890 at Sawald, Russia. He was the son of Ralph and Catherine (Dagenhart) Schell. He was married to Rose Katherine Engkraf, the daughter of John Pete and Anna Elizabeth (Dietrick) Engkraf. She was born November 14, 1892 at Husorn, Russia. Mr. Schell came to the United States in 1907, going first to Delta, Colorado. In 1909 he married Miss Rose Engkraf in Portland, Oregon. He had lived in the valley 51 years at the time of his death, September 29, 1971. Mrs. Schell died May 20, 1956 at Toppenish. They were members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and they are buried in Elmwood Cemetery. Mr. & Mrs. Schell had six children, Albert, John, Andrew, Anna (Shequin), Rose (Freitas) and Elizabeth (Rooney). Mr. Schell was preceded in death by sons, Albert and Andrew and also a brother, John, who died in 1956. [CFH] -- SCHELL John Peter Schell was born March 15, 1871 at Sawald, Russia, a Volga German. He was the son of Ralph and Catherine (Dagenhart) Schell. He married Katherine Margaret Appelhans, the daughter of John and Katherine (Distel) Appelhans. Katherine was born February 15, 1881 at Rothammel, Russia. He came to he United States in 1907, coming to the Yakima Valley February 2, 1920 from Rupert, Idaho to work the beets. Mr. & Mrs. John Schell were the parents of the following children: Mary Barbara (Schloss), Elizabeth (Kirkoffner), Anna (Olmstead), Margaret (Parrott), Katherine (Shirley), Christine (Malzahn), Barbara (VanNostern), John and Jake Schell. Mr. Schell died December 12, 1956 and Mrs. Schell June 26, 1949. [CFH] -- SCHELL Daniel Edward Schell, 70, of Wapato, died in Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. Mr. Schell was born March 8, 1912 to Fredrick and Julia Schell in Ruff, Washington. In 1918 he came with his family to the Wapato area where he was raised and educated. He ers, Adolf of Quincy, Amil of Prosser, Fredrick and Ben Schell, and two sisters, Mrs. Albert (Lydia) Snodderly, and Mrs. Christina Vetter of Wenatchee. He was preceded in death by his parents and seven brothers and sisters. [Taken from the files of the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society] -- SCHELL My father, Fredrick Daniel Schell, was born May 12, 1870 to David and Christina (Yolk) Schell, in Odessa, Russia. My mother Julia Becker, was born June 16, 1871, to David and Elizabeth (Shatz) Becker, also in Odessa, Russia. They were married in Odessa, Russia in 1886. They played together as children. They immigrated to the United States on the ship Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1902, bringing with them seven children. They landed in New York and settled in Ruff, Washington. In 1918 they came to the Yakima Valley working in the orchards at Condon's Castle. In 1919 they moved to Wapato and farmed. The following children were born to them at Odessa, Russia: Fredrick, January 21, 1889; John, June 13, 1891; Charles, December 20, 1893; Christina, October 21, 1895; Adolph, March 8, 1897; Jacob, April 7, 1904; Elizabeth, January 21, 1901. The following children were born at Ruff, Washington: Theodore, April 7, 1904; Pauline, April 20, 1906; Lydia, April 24, 1908; Benjamin, February 28, 1910; Daniel Edward, March 8, 1912; Marie, November 4, 1914; and Amil, May 6, 1915. My father died September 7, 1937 in Yakima and my mother died October 27, 1937 in Quincy, Washington. [Told to Bernice Elledge by Mr. & Mrs. Amil Schell] -- SCHELL Among the many Germans from Russia who settled in the Wapato area was the Schell family. They came to the valley from Ruff, Washington. Frederick Schell was born in Russia in 1870, he was the son of David Schell and Christina Yolk. His wife, Julia, was born in 1872, she was the daughter of Daniel Becker and Elizabeth Schatz, also from Russia. Their children include Charles, Adolph, Jacob, Ted, Emil, John, Ben and Daniel Edward and three daughters, Christina Vetter, Lydia Snodderly and Mamie Hastings. Adolph was born in Odessa, Russia and was married to Katie Giebelhaus. Another son, John, was born in Odessa, Russia in 1892. He was a WWI veteran, Barracks 3337, and died in Wapato in 1967. John is buried at Reservation Community Cemetery Park west of Wapato. Benjamin was born in 1910 in Ruff, Washington. He died March 4, 1988 and is buried at Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima. Daniel Edward died at Wapato in 1982. He was born at Ruff, Washington in 1912. He was a member of the Wapato Assembly of God Church. He, too, is buried at Reservation Community Cemetery at Wapato. Mr. Frederick Schell died in 1937 and Mrs. Julia Schell in 1935. She is buried at Tahoma Cemetery. [MFH/YHR] -- SCHLAUGH Otto, was born in Bessarabia, Romania on August 4, 1902. He came to the U.S. at the age of 12. The family settled at Ritzville, Washington where he attended school. From Ritzville the family moved to Cle Elum, Wa., from there to Yakima in 1936. He worked as a shoe clerk all of his working years. Many years for Kohls Shoe Store and Wilton Shoe Store both in Yakima, Wa. He died March 5, 1979. He was survived by his wife, Pauline and one daughter, Mrs. Paula Heaverlo of Yakima and one step-daughter, Mrs. Aurelia Oglesbee of Spokane. Keith and Keith Funeral Home in charge of burial arrangements. [YHR] -- SCHLECT Adam, born in Russia on June 28, 1878. The only information on him is a limited listing in the records of Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima, Wa. He died May 28, 1950. [GLC] -- SCHLOSS My dad was John Schloss and my mother was Mary Barbara Schell. Dad was born in Odessa, Russia and moved with his farmily to Harvey, North Dakota in 1919. He worked on the railroad around that area. In 1921 he moved to Germantown in the Toppenish area and worked for the Washington Nursery. He soon got on the railroad and worked there for a total of 50 years, 45 years while living at Toppenish. He worked until he was 70 years old and didn't want to quit then. Dad was the son of Peter and Johanna (Heilman) Schloss, born November 16, 1892. My mother was Mary Barbara Schell, she was born in Russia (possibly Seewald), in the Volga River area. She was the daughter of Albert and Katherine Marguerite (Appelhouse) Schell and was born October 29, 1902. My grandfather, Peter Schloss was born in Russia in 1860 and my grandmother, Johanna (Heilman) Schloss was born in Russia in 1859. They came to the Yakima Valley in 1919 and were survived by six children: John; Mike; Mary (Young); Anna Marie (Jiminez); Margaret (Reinhold) and Barbara (Buckmaster). They also lived at Germantown. We lived in Germantown and all my brothers and sisters were born there. My mother died February 22, 1951 at Toppenish, having lived in the area for 33 years. Dad died November 27, 1978 at Kennewick. He had moved four months prior to his death to live with my brother, Jake. My folks had five sons, Floyd, Jacob, Gerald, Benny and myself, Elmer, and three daughters, Cecilia (Reid), Mary Jean (DiLenge) and Joan (Ostriem). Dad was survived by three sisters, Barbara Buckmaster, Anna Jiminez and Margaret Reinhold. Mother was survived by two brothers, John and Jake Schell and six sisters, Elizabeth Kirkoffner, Anna Olmstead, Margaret Parrott, Katherine Shirley, Christine Malzahn and Barbara VanNostern. My folks were members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church and are buried in the Elmwood Cemetery. [CFH/YHR/with information from Elmer Schloss] -- SCHLOSS Peter Schloss was born December 16, 1860 at Odessa, Russia. His wife, Johanna Heilman, was born December 16, 1859 in Russia. They came to the United States settling in the Harvey, North Dakota area in 1919. They moved to the Yakima Valley in 1921 to Germantown. Mr. Schloss was a laborer. They were members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church and are buried in Elmwood Cemetery. Mr. & Mrs. Schloss had six children: John; Mike; Mary (Young); Anna Marie (Jiminez); Barbara (Buckwater); and Margaret (Rinbold). Mr. Schloss was survived by a brother, William Schloss of Wisconsin. Mr. Schloss died April 19, 1943 and Mrs. Schloss March 28, 1947 at Toppenish. [CFH] -- SCHMALZ / SCHMALTZ John J., born in Russia on July 12, 1862, the son of John and Katherine Schmalz. Julia K., his wife, was born in 1865. From the obituary records (which is limited) they were early settlers in the Yakima Valley. John died on July 12, 1930. Julia K. died on December 17, 1944. Both are interred in Calvary Cemetery. The list in Calvary Cemetery also lists a Stephen Schmalz, died at age 78 on September 6, 1950. No further information about him. [YVGS] -- SCHMIDT Henry L., born on May 26, 1886 in Karlsruhe, Russia, located near Odessa, Russia. Henry was the son of Ludwig Schmidt, who was born in 1840 at Karlsruhe, and Catherine Friedt. She was born in 1842 at Saratov, Russia. Ludwig was the son of Mathias Schmidt, born 1807-1833 at Roeschwoog, France, and Elizabeth Messer born in 1814 at Karlsruhe. Mathias was the immigrant who accompanied his parents, Johannes Paul Schmidt (1758-1813) and Catherine Kocher (1775-1836) both from Roeschwoog, France, to Russia. Henry came to the U.S. with his widowed mother in 1908. All of his brothers and sisters were born in Russia. Henry was the youngest. Katherine, born October 28, 1868, died in 1948. She married Joachim Boehm while in Russia. Regina born in 1871, died in Russia. Elizabeth, born September 8, 1876. She married Alexander Schaaf. She died March 17, 1933. Michael, born May 9, 1878. He married Bertha Steckler on May 22, 1900. Eva, born in 1880, died in Russia. Adam, born August 18, 1882. He died June 28, 1938 at Dickinson, North Dakota. His first marriage was to Otilla Loren. His second marriage was to Eva King. Henry and family lived at Richardson in North Dakota. He married Elizabeth Baer, born in Russia, June 23, 1889. They moved to a farm in Dunn County, 18 miles northeast of Dickinson.They farmed there until the fall of 1936, when they came to the Yakima Valley. In early October of 1936 they bought a farm at Prosser. In 1943 they moved to Yakima, and purchased a house on east Yakima Avenue, between 8th and 9th Street. They were members of the Catholic Church. Henry died December 7, 1947, Elizabeth on September 28, 1967. Both are interred in Calvary Cemetery at Yakima. [Information from Pete Schmidt, Yakima - By Frieda Brulotte ] -- SCHMIDT Michael, was born in Neu Karlsruhe, Beresan Colony in Russia on May 9, 1878. His great-grandfather, Paul Schmidt is listed in a census dated March 12, 1816 from the village Karlsruhe, Russia. Also noted that Paul died in 1813 at the age of 52. He emigrated from Roeschwoog/Hagenau Alsace (France), his wife was Katherine and he had six sons. Paul's son, Mathias (Michael's grandfather) was listed in the 1840 census, had at least five children, one was Ludwig, Michael's father. The land Ludwig possessed at the time of his death in 1897 was divided among three sons; Michael, Adam and Henry. The two, Adam and Henry immigrated at an early age with their mother to America. Michael was then the only heir left in the village, their share of the land went back to the commune. He was married to Bertha Steckler, born in 1885. The need for land to farm and make a living for his family was very necessary. In time he acquired a farm to rent on shares. It turned out to be a bad year, hardly any rain, the Russian Village nearby did not provide a friendly atmosphere for them, and so through hard times, he gave up farming to work as a laborer, which was the lowest kind of work - low wages and long hours. It was time to head for America! To be where his mother and brothers and sisters lived. They booked passage on a freighter to save money and went by way of Canada on the train, ten miles from the U.S. border, directly north of the town of Richardson, North Dakota, where his family lived. Michael and his sons found work at the newly founded town, Setlei, the whole community was composed of immigrants. Michael and family saved their money toward the trip to North Dakota. On August 15th they left for Richardson, N.D., U.S.A. They arrived at his mother's and from there they were loaded into a wagon for a 14 mile ride to Michael's brothers, Henry and Adam. He had not seen Adam in eleven years. Both Adam and Henry now had married and had children. In a short time Michael rented a farm on shares at Dickinson. In February 17, 1914, John was born. For a time they prospered, then they had several years of bad weather and drought which caused untold hardships. Michael heard about a valley near Hamilton, Montana. It seemed like a good place to try their luck. They once again moved. By now the additions of babies increased the family to 11 children. Getting work for this large family was not very promising. Their son, Louis, was now eighteen years of age. An offer came from the Utah Idaho Sugar Beet Company guaranteeing work for all of them year round, housing also. They were furnished free transportation to Yakima, Washington. This opportunity was taken up by the family. The first farm they worked on was located at Harrah, Wa. In 1928 they found a 40 acre farm east of Harrah to buy. It had one building (a oneroom shack). They soon built a six room house, a barn, chicken coop and hay derrick. Michael passed away on November 17, 1940. Bertha on February 10, 1933. The farm was sold after Michael died. They had attended St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Wapato. The children of Michael and Bertha are: Ludwig (Louis), born Nov. 11, 1901 in Russia, married Blanche Wegge; Barbara, born March 16, 1903 in Russia, died June 29, 1920 in the U.S.; Matthew, born Sept. 14, 1904 in Russia, married Freda Pearsom; Leodina, born June 18, 1906 in Russia, married Ad Mackey, died June 18, 1937; Carolina, born March 8, 1908 in Russia, married Martin Fred Heilman; Andreas, born June 13, 1909 in Russia, died May 13, 1910 in Russia; Joseph, born Nov. 25, 1911 in Russia, died August 17, 1926 in U.S.A.; John, born Feb 17, 1914 in Dickinson, N.D., married Faye Edna Chaney; Mary Eva, born Dec. 23, 1916 in Dickinson, married Raymond Britz; Paul, born Aug. 8, 1918, died July 13, 1935; Peter, born Aug. 8, 1918 in Dickinson, married Pearl Henkel; Katherine, born Jan. 1, 1920 in Hamilton, Mt., married Basil Walsh. Both Michael and Bertha are buried in Calvary Cemetery at Yakima, Wa. [Information from a story written by Margaret (Schmidt) Hagerty - Additional information provided by Louis Schmidt - By Frieda Brulotte] -- SCHMIPF Reinhold, born November 19, 1860 in Russia. His wife Catherine Margaret, daughter of C. Meyer and C.S. Filker was born June 6, 1863 in Russia. They were early arrivals in the Yakima Valley. They were members of the Hope Lutheran Church in Wapato, Washington. Catherine died on August 9, 1926 and Reinhold on August 7, 1935. They lived at Wapato. [MFH] -- SCHNEIDER Sebastian, born in Russia in 188O, the son of Benedict Schneider and Frances Harman both born in Russia. Sebastian's wife Margaret was born February 10, 1818 in Russia. He died October 5, 1943 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery. [YVGS] -- SCHNELLBACH John, the son of Jacob Schnellbach and Catherine Wentz, was born in Mariontahl, South Russia near Odessa, December 1, 1881. He married Sabina Andreas August 15, 1902. She was born Jan. 1, 1884. In 1904 he left his wife and small daughter, Dorothy, in Russia and came to the U.S. Sabina came later with the baby, but the child died enroute. They settled at Buffalo Park, Kansas where some of their relatives lived. He found employment with the Union Pacific Railroad. He next moved his family to Wild Horse, Colorado where they acquired a homestead and farmed the land, still he continued working for the railroad. Their first home at Wild Horse was a sod house. John became a naturalized citizen October 6, 1911. They did not make Wild Horse their permanent home, they sold the homestead and again followed relatives to Quincy, Washington. Before long they went back to Kansas. From there he again moved, this time to Toppenish, Wa. in 1916 he worked for a time for Mr. Aumiller who had various properties, including orchards. Another trip was made to Kansas, but in 1919 he brought his family back to Toppenish. This time they stayed, making this their final home. He worked for a rancher named Bill Meyers for a while, then got work for the Washington Nursery Company until he retired after many years. He died in January 1969. This family was of the Catholic Faith. They had three daughters and two sons: Rosina, born 1906; Katherine, born 1908; Joseph, born Sept. 6, 1910, died June 20, 1988; Jacob, born 1912, deceased; Dorothy, deceased. All the children live in the Toppenish vicinity. They also have many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. [Information from Joe Schnellbach and Katherine - By Frieda Brulotte] -- SCHNELLBACH My dad and mother were John and Minnie (Andreas) Schnellbach. They were both born in Mariental, Russia, dad in 1881 and mom in 1884. They were married in Mariental. I had a baby sister who was born there and died and was buried just three days before my mother came over, that was about 1904. My dad's parents, Jacob and Katherine (Heintz) Schnellbach, did not come to the United States, however, we heard from them. I remember that during the second World War, my dad would get a letter from them but it was blacked out and then we didn't hear from them until grandmother died. My grandfather had remarried before my dad knew my grandmother had died. I believe my dad said he had four brothers that were in the war. My mother's parents settled in the Quincy, Washington area where they homesteaded. They were Joseph and Anna Marie (Schmeibea) Andreas. She had three brothers, Roy, Anthony and Dan Andreas. My oldest sister, Rosina (Heilman) and my youngest brother, Jack, were both born at Buffalo Park, Kansas, and my brother, Joseph, and I were born on the homestead at Wild Horse, Colorado. I had a baby sister who died Christmas of 1918 in the influenza epidemic. She had been born in Germantown. We moved to the Yakima Valley in 1919 and my dad worked for W. B. Meyers in the McKinley area. I went to McKinley School. When the sugar factory opened, my dad went to work for them and we bought three acres at Germantown and built a home there. Mother died in 1958 and dad in 1969. They were members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church. They are buried at Elmwood Cemetery. [Information by Katherine Grubenhoff - CFH - By Louise Potter] -- SCHOESSLER Conrad was born in Walter, Russia on March 2, 1898, the son of Heinrich Schoessler from Walter, born Jan. 20, 1857. His mother was Barbara Klippert, she was the daughter of Adam Klippert, her mother's name is unknown. Barbara also was born in Walter, November 24, 1859. The Schoessler family immigrated to the U.S. in 1909 and settled first in Adams County, Washington at Ritzville. They made their living working on farms and farming for themselves. In 1922 Conrad married Catherine Sackman. She was born in Bessarabia, which was part of Romania at that time. Born in 1903 she was two years old when her parents came to the U.S. She and Conrad settled at Lind, Washington in Adams County, located a short distance from Ritzville. Born to them at Lind was a son LeRoy in 1923. They left that area for the Yakima Valley and farmed at Granger, Washington. Another son was born to them and a daughter, Norman and Irene. Conrad died in 1953. He is buried in the Old Sunnyside Cemetery. Catherine remained on the farm with son, Norman until 1958, when she moved to Sunnyside. She was a member of the Calvary Lutheran Church, and a member of the Ladies Aid Society. She lived in Sunnyside until her death on Feb. 27, 1968. The son, LeRoy, died April 1, 1968. He was survived by his wife, Ruth (Johnson), sons, Conrad and Gary, and a daughter Shirley. Some members of his family resided at Chelan, Wa. Conrad was the brother of Jacob Schoessler. [Information from obituaries - By Frieda Brulotte] -- SCHOESSLER Jacob, was born in Walter, Russia on October 20, 1884. He was the son of Heinrich (Henry) Schoessler and Barbara Kilppeert. He married Elizabeth Walter, daughter of Jacob Walter and Mary Breiner. Elizabeth was born September 2, 1883. While they lived in Russia, their son, George was born on October 15, 1905. The family immigrated to America in 1910 and settled at Ritzville, Wa. Jacob worked on the wheat farms and as he was also handy at carpentry he worked at this as a side line. They lived at Ritzville until 1918 when they moved to the Yakima Valley, settling at Sunnyside, Wa. Seven more children were born to this couple: Victor on October 22, 1910; Esther on January 23, 1912; Edward on August 21, 1913; Lydia on November 21, 1914; Helen on August 4, 1916; Arthur on November 27, 1917; and Amelia, April 15, 1919. This child died at two years of age, May 13, 1921. The following year on December 24, 1922, Elizabeth, the mother, died, leaving Jacob to raise their family. The following year he married Anna Margaret, nee Borgens. She was the daughter of Jacob Borgens and Maria Katharina Walters of Frank, Russia. Anna had also been previously married and had a family of seven children. She and Jacob had a combined family of fifteen children. They diligently raised their families. They made several moves through the years. From Sunnyside, to Wapato, and also to Montana. They came back to Washington and settled at Ferndale, Wa. There they farmed on a small scale besides the carpentry work. On their retirement they returned to Wapato, and finally bought a small house in Yakima. They attended the Lutheran Church. Anna was a member of the Ladies Society of the church. Jacob died February 27, 1960 and Anna Margaret on January 1, 1968. Both are buried in West Hills Memorial Park located west of Yakima. [By Frieda Brulotte] -- SCHREIBER Henry was born in Russia on July 9 1889. He was the son of Henry Schreiber and Lois Dere. His wife was Katherine. They lived in Wapato in the 1930s. He was a laborer and did odd jobs. He died at an early age on January 21, 1939 (age 50). He is buried in Tahoma Cemetery at Yakima, Washington. [YVGS] -- SCHREINER Henry was born June 27, 1878 at Kautz, Russia. He married Katherine Elizabeth Reil, daughter of Phillip Reil and Katherine Frickle. Katherine Elizabeth was born in Russia on June 12, 1889. She and Henry were married in Russia and at least two of the children were born there: Elizabeth, February 16, 1904, and Mollie, October 29, 1909. They immigrated to Canada in 1911 and from there they moved to Walla Walla, Wa. In 1916 they moved to the Toppenish area where they farmed. Henry obtained his citizenship when they lived at Toppenish. They were known to have had five daughters. They were: Elizabeth, Mollie, Lydia, Mary and Frieda, all are now deceased. Their daughter, Elizabeth, married Alex Rehm and later Howard Jennings. She had lived in Toppenish many years prior to moving to Portland. She was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Toppenish. She died May 29, 1988 at Portland. Their second daughter, Mollie, married Norman Wright, September 19, 1928 in Toppenish, she was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Toppenish. She died February 11, 1989 and is buried in the Elmwood Cemetery. Katherine preceded Henry in death. She died January 22, 1939, Henry died December 18, 1952. Colonial Funeral Home had charge of the arrangements and they are buried in the Elmwood Cemetery. [YHR/CFH/TR] -- SCHROEDER William, is listed in the 1900 Yakima County Census. He was born in Russia in June, 1871, and was 29 years of age. [1900 Yakima County Census] -- SCHUMACHER Emanuel, born in Russia on March 10, 1877. He was the son of Joseph Schumacher and Agnes Schue. He was married to Barbara Singer, daughter of Joseph and Barbara Singer. She was born at Odessa, Russia on March 7, 1862. Emanuel died on July 7, 1940. His wife, Barbara, died September 24, 1942 at Glencross, South Dakota. A son, Lawrence, born at Helena, Montana on September 16, 1901, died February 17, 1944. Lawrence and his father are buried in the Calvary Cemetery, Yakima. [YVGS] -- SCHUTZ My dad, John Schutz, was born in Odessa, Russia in 1892. He came to the United States with his parents when he was five years old. He was born January 5, 1892 to Gottlieb and Sofia (Lobe) Schutz. They went to the Ritzville area where my grandparents homesteaded 480 acres. My folks moved to Toppenish in 1937. They had a fruit orchard in the Zillah area from 1922 to 1936 where they raised apples, cherries and pears. Then they bought a farm three miles west of Toppenish on the Fort Road where we raised beets, sweet corn, alfalfa and cattle. My dad retired in 1962 and when he passed away in 1969, had lived in the valley for 47 years. My mother's name was Ida Braun. They were members of the Faith Lutheran Church and are buried at the Zillah Cemetery. My folks had three sons, Melvin, Gerald and myself, Ervin. Dad had three sisters and two brothers; Rebecca (Beak), Barbara (Grams), Louise (Player), Gotthild, and Gottlieb. Gotthielf lives at Ritzville and has just recently sold the homestead. My dad's sister, Rebecca, was born in Kolb, Russia in 1882 and died at Toppenish in 1975. At the time of her death, she had lived in the Yakima Valley for 52 years. She had the following children; Alvin Roth, Joe Beak, Emanuel Henke, Sadie (Phillips) and Emma (Rehm). She was a member of the Congregational Church and is buried at the Zillah Cemetery. [Information from Ervin Schutz - by Louise Potter - CFH ] -- SCHWARTZMAN Simon, born in Dorosa, Russia on January 21, 1875. He married Rosina Hoffman in Russia in 1895. The immigrated to the U.S. in 1898 and settled first in South Dakota, then to Golden Valley, North Dakota. They came to the Yakima Valley in 1947. They were members of the Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. He died of a stroke on November 14, 1958. The text for his burial service was read in the German language. He was survived by his wife, two sons and one daughter. Five children had preceded him in death. Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home in charge of burial arrangements. He is buried in West Hills Memorial Park. [GLC] -- SCHWARTZWALTER Frederich (Fred) born in South Russia on January 31, 1876. He came to the U.S. when a teenager. He was the son of Fred Schwartzwalter and Dorothy Liebert. Fred married Katherine Dormierer. She was born in So. Russia on Sept. 25, 1877, the daughter of Fred Dormeierer (her mother's name is not on record). Katherine was eight years old when they came to the U.S. (1895), her family came to Washington State in 1906. They lived at Ruff, Wa. Fred and Katherine were married when she lived at Ruff. They came to the Yakima Valley in 1920, to the Cowiche area. They were members of the Highland Evangelical United Brethern Church. Katherine was ill for 3 1/2 years with heart trouble. She died at age 52, on April 5, 1930, following a bout with the flu. Besides her husband, she was survived by: Sam, Arthur, Albert, Rachel Crouch, Ida and Lydia. Katherine's brothers were, Chris, John and Martin Dormierer. Her sisters were Louise Schmierer and Mrs. Christian Attman. When Fred married his second wife, Bertha, she had children. Fred died November 18, 1953 at the age of 77. He had been in the U.S. 61 years, in the state 52, and in the Cowiche area 27 years. He was a farmer. Besides the children from his first marriage he left wife, Bertha, step-children, Alec and Alfred Gust, Mrs. Richard (Emma) Carpenter and Mrs. Russell (Ruth) Palmer. Fred is buried in Tahoma Cemetery. [S & S] -- SEIBEL David, born in Emmaus, Russia on September 28, 1909 to George Seibel and Mary E. Simon. He came to the U.S. with his parents to Garden City, Kansas, where they homesteaded. In 1934 he was married to Hertha Lapp in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She was born January 1, 1918 in Golden Valley, North Dakota to Martin Lapp and Sophie Middlestead. Hertha moved with her parents to Idaho Falls, when she was seven years of age. She and David were married there. The couple moved to Moxee, Wa., where they owned and operated a hop ranch. He was also employed by Fred Young Lumber Company for more than 20 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, taught Sunday School and Adult Education for several years. He was also a volunteer at the Union Gospel Mission. Both David and Hertha died in the same year. Hertha on July 5, 1989 and David on August 4, 1989. Their survivors were: daughter, Virginia Brown; three sons, Gary, Richard and David. He left three brothers, John of Martinez, Cal, Henry of Yakima, Herman of Yakima, also, four sisters; Marie Bergman, Pauline Schlueter, Anna Roth and Freda Miller. Hertha was survived by a brother, Emanuel Lapp, her three sisters, Hilda Seibel, Martha Ruff and Esther Adolph. Hertha was preceded in death by a brother, Ted Lapp. Both David and Hertha's burial services were held in Keith and Keith's Terrace Heights Chapel. [YHR] -- SEIBEL My father, George Seibel, was born in Dietel, Russia, November 7, 1873. My mother, Mary Elizabeth Seibel (nee Simon) was also born in Dietel, Russia, June 16, 1874. When they were eight and nine years old, their parents left Dietel joining a wagon train to the Caucasus area near the Black Sea. When mother was 18 and dad 20, they met and were married in Emmaus, Russia. My father left right away to serve four years in the Russian Army. During this time, his first son, Conrad, was born and died just before George returned home. The family then moved to a small village near the Turkish border. Because of the increase in trouble with the Turks and because of his health, it was decided the family would leave for America. In America, George had a cousin. With their six children, John, Jacob, George, David, Conrad II, and daughter Paulina, they rode the cattle cars to a port in Germany and arrivedin America May 10, 1910. They proceeded to Kansas where they raised sugar beets. Here two children were added to the family, Henry and Maria. When Maria was a small baby, the family moved to Montana, near Billings. Again they rented land and farmed sugar beets. Another daughter, Anna, was added here. Relatives in Colorado wrote how nice it was there and how good the work was so they left to farm near Windsor and Greeley. Again, they were blessed with a son, Herman, and four years later a daughter, Frieda. My father's fortunes were not so good here and he lost everything having only enough money to transport his family to California. As the older children could help harvest fruit and grapes, times were better. Dad and the older ones worked in the sugar factory also. Soon, he decided that he would like to raise sugar beets again and we left for Idaho where he did just that for ten years. Finally, enough money was saved to buy his own farm and in late August of 1937, they bought a hop yard near Moxee, Washington. This he farmed with his youngest son, Herman, until his death the 14th of November, 1961. My mother died February 12, 1945. [Information from David Seibel by Louise Potter] Mr. Seibel passed away in August of 1989. -- SEIBOL Frederick, born in Russia on April 24, 1870. He came to the U.S. in 1905. His early history is not known. His wife, Elizabeth was born in Russia, April 15, 1887. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1910. She lived first in Pennsylvania. She and Frederick were married, and then they came to the Yakima Valley. in 1921. They lived in the Moxee area. He died on April 22, 1944 after an illness of several years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and eight sons. He is buried in Terrace Heights Memorial Park. [GLC] -- SEITZ Jacob, born in Russia on April 7, 1879. The son of Jacob and Elizabeth Seitz. He married Katherine Smith, born in Russia July 3, 1881, the daughter of Jacio Smith and ? Wagner. In the early years of their marriage they lived in North Dakota, then moved to the Yakima Valley. They had a large family, four sons and six daughters. Jacob died April 14, 1930, and Katherine on June 15, 1929. Information on their family is: Andrew (Andy) born July 25, 1913 at Bentley, North Dakota. He served in the military during WWII. After service he worked as an operating engineer on highway construction. He died August 9, 1981. Alvin (Al) born March 20, 1915 in Medina, N.D. He came to Yakima as a young child. Worked in construction as an operating engineer. He died July 8, 1980. Andrew, of Yakima; Bill of Seattle; and John of El Paso, Texas. Daughters: Amelia Carr, Rose Sloane and Pauline Johnson all of Spokane; Martha Guderian of Yakima; Lillian Shubart of Portland; Frieda Dahlman of California. Jacob and Katherine are both interred in Tahoma Cemetery. Shaw and Sons in charge of burial arrangements. [YVGS/YHR] -- SELZLER Joseph, born in South Russia on December 17, 1896. He immigrated to the U.S. when an infant. They settled at Strasburg, North Dakota. He married Elizabeth Repplinger on November 20, 1920 at Glencross, South Dakota. In 1937 they moved to Prosser, Wa. with their seven children. They farmed in the area until 1977 when they moved to Yakima. Joseph died September 23, 1987 at the age of 91. His survivors besides his wife, Elizabeth, were his children: Joseph Jr., of Othello, Wa.; Peter of El Cajon, Cal; Frank of Spokane, Wa.; John of Yakima and Tony of Rawlins, Wyoming. He also left a brother, Mark of Yakima and two sisters, one in Oregon and one in North Dakota. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Nila Kaser and fourteen brothers and sisters. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church. Keith & Keith in charge of burial at West Hills Memorial Park. [YHR] -- SERVO Elizabeth Servo, wife of Anton G. Servo, was born in Hungary, May 24, 1883. Her father was Max Bremerhaus and her mother was Margaret Klicer. At the time of her death, April 30, 1946, she was survived by her husband and six children; Margaret (Parker), Annie (Damm), Conrad, Nicholas, John, and Powell Servo. She is buried at Elmwood Cemetery. She had lived in the area six years. Mr. Servo married Emma (Wacker) Mauch in November of 1946. He passed away in 1974. [CFH] -- SINNER Henry and Amalia Sinner Compiled and written by daughter, Esther (Sinner) Rockwell It was in November of 1934 that Henry and Amalia Sinner and their nine children arrived in Yakima, Washington. Our mode of traveling was a vehicle pulling a two-wheel cargo trailer, loaded with the most necessary household items. We were thankful that the weather was not severe, considering that the top priority was to find a place to live. The family spent a few days in a rented cabin. Everyone needed a good bath, clothing needed washing and we needed rest. From Yakima, Dad and mother moved their family to a large two-story house near Zillah; this took place about December 5, 1945. This house was located in an orchard and our family lived on the main floor of the house. Another family of Germans from Russia had purchased this orchard and dad had been able to make arrangements to live there and look after the place and work in the orchard until the owner arrived in the spring of 1935. Two other families who were related to the owner arrived early in the spring of 1935 and shared the house with our family for a few weeks. In April of 1935, we moved to Wapato. Dad had rented a house on the corner of Hoffer and Campbell Roads and we children entered school again. During this school year of 1934-35, most of us had missed so much school that some of us had to repeat classes of the previous year. Prior to coming to Washington State, Dad had been a farmer doing very well. Things changed drastically when severe crop losses were sustained in Colorado due to weather. Hail storms that destroyed everything, the decline in the economy, the Great Depression of 1929, and the years following the early 1930s were the circumstances and hardships that "broke the camel's back". Mother suffered a great deal with hay fever in Colorado and the doctors advised that moving to the western states would help that condition. While Dad was going about planning and working hard to provide for his large family, Mother was always there as part of the team. Much of this was before many of our modern conveniences. There was always bread to bake, meals to be cooked, dishes had to be washed. Our laundry was scrubbed out in the yard in large round washtubs using a glass washboard. There were oblong copper kettles in which to boil the white clothing and bedding and clotheslines to hang them on. Our winter supply of food had to be prepared during the summer. There was canning, salting meats, the sauerkraut barrel, and the pickles as well. Mother was also a very good seamstress, making much of our clothing. For pleasure such as we do for hobbies, she enjoyed crocheting. All the while as one day ebbed into another, so did the arrival of babies, one about every two and a half years. This was before disposable diapers were thought of and baby food did not come in a little bottle, canned and ready to warm and serve. Illnesses came and went and we rarely saw a doctor for things termed childhood diseases. Some mild home remedies were used, such as liniment for bruises or mixed with milk for a stomach ache. About three years after moving to the Wapato area, Dad bought a farm south of Wapato and began farming again. By this time, his sons had all established homes of their own. This farming venture lasted only a few years, then Dad stopped farming altogether. Starting over again, Dad built an apartment house in Wapato and the income derived from this was his way of making a living. # # # Henry Sinner was born in Norka, Russia on May 7, 1893. His parents were Johannas and Katherina Amalia (Neidental) Sinner. He had two brothers, George and John; four sisters, Elizabeth, Katherine Elizabeth, Amalia, and Katherina. Henry Sinner arrived in the United States on January 9, 1913. He was eighteen years old. His passage was via the Steamer S.S. Haverford of the Clydebank American Lines that traveled between Liverpool, England and the Port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States of America on May 24, 1948 in Yakima, Washington. Amalia (Kahm) Sinner was born on February 17, 1897 in Balzer, Russia. Her parents were Jacob and Amalia (Weber) Kahm. She had two brothers, Jacob and Alexander; three sisters, Katherine, Marie, and Emelia. All members of this family came to the United States and all have died except Marie (Kahm) Williams, who resides in Lemoore, California. Amalia (Kahm) Sinner arrived in the United States on July 21, 1912 at sixteen years of age. Her passage was via the S.S. Lisutania of the Cunard Line that traveled between Liverpool, England and New York, New York, U.S.A. She became a naturalized citizen of the United States of America on November 10, 1952 at Yakima, Washington. Mother entered the United States through Port Huron on Lake Huron and traveled from there to Chicago and on into the State of Nebraska and the small town of Sutton, Nebraska. Henry Sinner and Amalia Kahm became acquainted in Sutton and were married in Exeter, Nebraska. Their first home was established in Sutton, Nebraska and their first two sons were born there. Their children are as follows: Edward Henry Sinner was born on June 8, 1915 in Sutton, Nebraska. He married Lillian A. Thomas on March 18, 1937 in Hood River, Oregon. They became the parents of seven children; three daughters and four sons. Lillian died on June 3, 1986. Edward took up long distance hauling and later farmed. For a period of time he returned to trucking again. In retirement he has enjoyed lake and deep sea fishing. Alex Martin Sinner was born December 5, 1917 in Sutton, Nebraska. He married Opal Mae Getsinger on May 12, 1940 in Wapato, Washington. They became the parents of six children; three sons and three daughters. Alex and his brother, Reuben, were in partnership in Granger, Washington for twelve years, from 1943 to 1955. This was a farm implement manufacturing and repair business, Granger Farm Shop. Alex went on to establish Sinner Manufacturing of Sunnyside, Washington. He owned the business for thirty years, form 1955 to 1986. He sold the business in 1986 and retired to live in Yakima. He and his wife have traveled and still do, extensively. For a hobby, he completed studies and has been licensed to sell commercial as well as residential real estate. Reuben Sinner was born October 10, 1919 in Severence, Colorado. He married Doris Ellen Franz August 25, 1940 in Toppenish, Washington. They became the parents of three children; two daughters and one son. Reuben was owner and operator of Granger Machine and Iron Works for twenty-six years. He sold the business in 1981 and retired. He continues to live in the family home in Granger. In retirement they are enjoying traveling and fishing and Reuben is pursuing his hobby as a Ham Radio Operator, which he has enjoyed for the past forty or more years. Daniel Sinner was born January 24, 1922 in Sutton, Nebraska. He married Eunice N. Ashworth June 1, 1945 in Yakima. They became the parents of three children; three sons and one daughter. Daniel attended Northwest Bible College in Kirkland, Washington and became an ordained minister of the Assemblies of God Church. He pastored a number of churches including those at Neah Bay, Amanda Park, Colville and Camas, all in the state of Washington. He left full-time ministry for further education and took courses in psychology and then received his Doctorate in Psychology. He and his wife then became foster parents for Youth Group Homes in Vancouver, Washington. He also ministered as Chaplain for various hospitals in the Vancouver area. He is enjoying his retirement although his wife is still employed. Esther (Sinner) Rockwell was born October 22, 1924 in Eaton, Colorado. She married Richard K. Rockwell on August 25, 1946 at Wapato, Washington. They became the parents of three children; two sons and one daughter. After graduation from high school, Esther was employed a year as assistant secretary in the high school principal's office, followed by work in insurance offices and also in the office of a potato warehouse. After her marriage, full-time homemaking had priority. An interest in working in the medical field then surfaced. After working one year for a pediatrician, Esther was employed part-time at a medical clinic while taking classes at Yakima Valley Community College in medical terminology and advanced medical typing. This was followed by five years as office manager and receptionist in the medical field, then by two years in the dental f eld, including chairside assisting. The pleasure of having a boat and doing lake fishing is fulfilling in retirement; also lots of camping and traveling. Ruth Miriam (Sinner) Doyle was born August 23, 1926 at Windsor, Colorado. She married William Robert Doyle January 1O, 1948 at Wapato, Washington. They became the parents of four children; two sons and two daughters. While her children were still small, nursing became of great interest to Miriam. She began working at the Yakima County Hospital as a nurse's aide and later as a practical nurse at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Yakima, Washingon. In 1965, Miriam attended Yakima Valley Community College and earned her degree in nursing. Following this, she was employed at Yakima Memorial Hospital in the surgical ward for thirteen years. Much to her regret, she became physically disabled and was forced into early retirement. In retirement, she continues to be a friend and helper to her many friends and neighbors. Lydia Mae (Sinner) Brazeal was a homemaker approximately the first ten years of her marriage. After this she enjoyed being a restaurant hostess, which inluded working at a number of large international airport restaurants. She continued in this line of employment until physical disability limited her ability to continue full-time work.She and her husband enjoy the music enterprises he is involved with in Apache Junction, Arizona. Through previous marriage, Lydia has seven children; five sons and two daughters. Naomi (Sinner) Mathews was born April 11, 1931 at Windsor, Colorado. She married Larry W. Mathews September 1O, 1951 in Yakima. They became the parents of four children, three daughters and one son. Naomi attended Business College for six months then worked as an executive secretary three years for an insurance firm in Yakima. For the first fifteen years following her marriage, she enjoyed being a homemaker.After her children were all in school, Naomi decided to follow her secretarial career and worked as an executive secretary for various business firms, including ten years at a public utility district in East Wenatchee, Washington and three years at a C.P.A. firm in Wenatchee. With enough expertise behind her to venture out on her own, she decided to become her own boss. Naomi converted part of their home in East Wenatchee into an office and began an on-going professional secretarial service known as "Words Unlimited" which she has operated successfully since 1984. As a professional freelance secretary, she operated a variety of state of the art computers and word processors too numerous to mention. Lillian Emelia (Sinner) Hines was born June 23, 1933 at Windsor, Colorado. She married Aaron O. Hines August 29, 1952 at Wapato, Washington. They became the parents of four children; three sons and one daughter. Since the time of her marriage, Lillian has combined homemaker and business. Her career has gone steadily upward since her first job out of high school at the Yakima Sheep Company. It was after that experience that she began work as a city clerk and has worked for a number of cities in Washington State. For three of these cities she has worked in a managerial capacity. Lillian's career has been varied, with approximately twenty years as a city clerk. She continues in this capacity until the present time. As descendants of this family, we can claim a measure of pride and accomplishment by this century's standards and find ourselves as mechanic, salesperson, security manager, park manager, truck driver, hair stylist, broker, waitress, food preparer, bookkeeper, pipe fitter, construction worker, bus driver, seamstress, marketing bank teller, office manager, manufacturer, florist, bank trustee, welder, medical technician, body and fender person, cocktail hostess, supervisor, dental assistant, minister, real estate sales person, physical science, journeyman painter, artist, certified public accountant, work processor, computer operator, secretary, farmer, homemaker, contract analyst, account specialist, blacksmith, and talented musicians. Henry Sinner died on March 15, 1976 and was buried at Terrace Heights Memorial Park, Yakima, Washington. Amalia Sinner died on March 13, 1987 and was buried at Terrace Heights Memorial Park, Yakima, Washington. -- SNYDER Harry, listed in the 1900 Yakima County Census. Born in Russia. He and his family were listed as: Harry a laborer, age 40, naturalized in 1873; Anna, wife, age 32, born in Ohio, both her parents were born in Germany; Phillip, son, age 9, born August 1890 in Minnesota; Ruth, daughter, born August 1892 in Minnesota; Esther, daughter, born April 1896 in Minnesota; Alice, daughter, born January 1897 in Minnesota; and Murl, son, born January 1899 in Washington. [1900 Yakima County Census] -- SPRENGER Fred and Anna - Their story as written by their daughter Genevieve. The Short Valley History of the Family of Fred and Anna Gettman(n) Sprenger. Our family came to the Yakima Valley in March of the year of 1919. There were five of us; my father, Fred; my mother, Anna Margarite; oldest child, Howard Henry; oldest girl, Thelma Margarite; and I, Genevieve Francis, age three to be four in July. Dad and Mother were married December 2, 1901 in Hastings, Nebraska. We always said that Dad 'went across the tracks' to South Hastings (German Town) and chose the prettiest girl there. Mother's family, the Jacob Gettman's had emigrated from Frank, Russia in 1886. (I'm still searching for the exact date and ship). Mother's main memory of that trip was that her mother was very seasick and that the youngest child was still nursing. The children were three boys and three girls. My mother was eight years old with two boys younger and with two girls older. Arriving in New York Harbor at Castle Garden (not Ellis Island) there was a shortage of money to get to Hastings, Nebraska. They contacted cousins in Hastings and they sent the necessary funds. My grandfather was a leather worker making harness, etc., and fine boots and shoes. Since the two older girls were past what they considered school age, they immediately went to work in other people's homes. My sister, Anna was of course in school at eight years, but having no English, she was started over in the first grade, and went until she was twelve and through the fourth grade. Then she also went out to work in other people's homes. She did this until she married at the age of twenty-four. My paternal grandfather, Henry Jacob Sprenger, was born in Odessa, Russia in the year 1843. I do not know when he came to the United States. I am not sure if he came with any of his family, but he did have a brother, Michael and a sister, Ellen, (that my parents knew). He married Christine Hartman, presumably in Burlington, Iowa, where my father was born on December 15, 1873. Grandfather was a horseshoer and blacksmith so naturally two of his three boys followed in his footsteps, and the third was a veterinarian. There were two girls older than Dad. This was after the family had moved to Albin, Iowa, there they also had a livery stable, and then to Hastings, Ne., in 1881. My mother, father and sister and brother moved to Tacoma, Wa., in the fall, September of 1907. Father worked in the horse-shoeing and blacksmithing for other shops. He worked with his father and in his own business until they moved to the Yakima Valley in 1919. I was born in 1915 in Tacoma, Wa. I guess dad always wanted to be a farmer. They moved to a ranch on Toppenish Creek on the Yakima Indian Reservation. It was owned by a cousin of dads, Dr. Dick Dasher, dentist of Toppenish. It was west of Toppenish about a few miles from Harrah, off the Fort Road. It was dry land, no water, no house. We lived in a tent house until the house was built. I often think of my mother leaving a very nice home in Tacoma and living under those conditions. It must have been a great adjustment. My brother and sister returned to Tacoma to finish present schooling and work. I was four that summer. I've heard that I delighted in all the ranch animals. A neighbor gave me a lamb that had a short life one of the horses stepped on it! I would go out to the field to meet dad so I could ride back on one of the big horses. Dad was cautioned to watch me so I wouldn't meet the same demise as the lamb! We had nice neighbors and made lasting friendships. The John Selatsee family lived across the creek. In later years, when we lived at the foot of Medicine Valley, outside of White Swan, the Selatsee family always stopped to see us when they went up the valley. They were such nice people and my mother and Mrs. Selatsee were always so glad to see each other. There was the Bill Lusby family and the Rod White's and the Weiman's lived not too far. In later years, when I married a Wenas Valley young man, I met the Weiman boys again. After that, there were many moves. Harwood, White Swan, Wapato, Lower Natches, where I graduated from high school. In White Swan I finished the eighth grade. At the same time my sister, Thelma, taught school and met her future husband who managed the lumber yard. The fourth and fifth grade teacher was Elizabeth Camp, who became my sister-in-law. My sister never taught again and was a great mother to four youngsters in Grandview and Tacoma. My sister-in-law didn't teach again until their four children were older and then taught in the Zillah Schools and Granger kindergarten. My brother was a state fruit inspector for many years and then a field man for Ben Perham Fruit Co. They have lived over 50 years in Zillah, retired. Sometimes, I think it was a lot of moving. Then I think of all the great friends and people we would have missed if dad had decided to stay in one spot! Anna Margarite (Gettman) Sprenger, born in Frank, Russia, died on January 9, 1956 at the age of 79. She is buried in the cemetery at Zillah. Fred, born December 15, 1873 in Burlington, Iowa, died in 1949, and is also buried in the Zillah cemetery. Daughter, Genevieve, lives in Selah, Wa., is now retired. She is a member of the Central Washington Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. -- SPRINGER Henry, born in Russia in 1878. He came to the U.S. in 1902 first to North Dakota then moved to Canada. He lived there until 1929 when he moved to Portland, Oregon. He came to Yakima in 1959 and farmed until his retirement. He was a member of Union Gap Assembly of God Church. He died March 25, 1975. Survivors include five sons, Bill with whom he lived, George of Vancouver, B.C., Dan of Mailing, Alberta, Charles of Grangeville, Idaho and Henry of Portland; a daughter, Mrs. Rose Elkins of Spokane. [YHR] -- SPRINGER Walter, born in Russia in 1906, came to Yakima in 1919. He was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church. He died of a heart attack at age 42 in 1948. He left his wife, Lydia, of Toppenish, three sisters and two brother. Keith & Keith Funeral Home in charge of funeral arrangements. He is buried in the Tahoma Cemetery. [GLC] -- STEBER Alex was born in Russia in 1899. He came to the U.S. when he was 15 years old. They settled in Colorado. He farmed for a time in Colorado and Wyoming before coming to the Yakima Valley. Katherine, his wife, was born in Russia on September 21, 1907. She came to the U.S. at age three to St. Paul, Minnesota. When they were married they lived in Worland, Wyoming, and moved to the Yakima Valley in 1942. They were members of Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. Alex was a construction worker and member of the Operating Engineers No. 302. Katherine preceded him in death. She died January 4, 1969. She left her husband, Alex, and two daughters and two sons. Her mother and three sisters also survived her. Alex died January 4, 1978, nine years to the day from Katherine's death.. Their children are: Lillian Newman, of Worland, Wyoming; Katherine Smith, of Moxee, Wa.; LeRoy A. Steber of Selah; and Theodore K. Steber, of McMinnville, Oregon. [YHR/GLC] -- STEFFEN John G. was born November 25, 1888 in Wilhelmstal, Russia. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1909, settling in Eureka, South Dakota. On October 11, 1914 he married Christina Opp, daughter of George and Barbara Opp. She grew up in South Dakota. John and Christina farmed near Eureka, S.D. until 1937. They moved to Wiley City, Wa. in 1945. He worked in the fruit for Gilbert Orchards until he died. They were members of Grace Evangelical Church. Mr. Steffen died on May 2, 1963. Mrs. Steffen continued to live in Wiley City until failing health forced her to give up her home. She raised nine children, three sons by a first marriage, William, Albert and Phillip. She lived to the age of 86, and passed away on January 27, 1981. She was survived by two sisters and eight brothers. Keith & Keith Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. [YHR/GLC] -- STEIBER David, born December 12, 1907 in Dietel/Dittel, Russia to Mr. & Mrs. Henry Steiber. They immigrated to the U.S. before 1910. Records show his brother, George was born November 7, 1910 in Manhattan, Montana. In 1919 David moved to the Yakima Valley. For many years he owned and operated a poultry farm. In October, 1952, he married Jessie Hill. He was a long time member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. In 1978 his brother, George died. He had also been a poultry farmer. David died in 1982. His survivors were his wife, Jessie, a step-son, David Morris, and a sister, Elizabeth Wurl. [LMFH] -- STEINMETZ Emanuel, born in Dietel, Russia April 7, 1903. His parents were Henry Steinmetz and Eva Bongart. When a young boy they immigrated to the U.S. (1913) and came to the Hardin, Montana area. In 1936 they moved to Toppenish. He farmed west of Toppenish until 1949. He bought a dairy in South Prairie and operated it until 1963. From 1963 until his retirement in 1968 he was employed as a custodian at White River High School in Buckley, Wa. He died March 17, 1983. He left his wife, Elizabeth, two daughters, Marie Brownlee and Jean Smith, and two sons, Ed of Buckley and Don of Enumclaw. [YHR] -- STEINMETZ George Steinmetz was my stepfather and father-in-law. He emigrated from Dittel, Russia in 1907 and had lived in the Yakima Valley since 1936. He was born October 28, 1881 to Carl and Sophia (Bangert) Steinmetz. His children were Lydia (Rob); Leah (Bell); Frieda (Bromgard); Eva (Hoffman); Alex, Lloyd, Samuel, Henry, George and Fred Steinmetz. Three of the brothers were born in Russia; Henry and George and another brother who died shortly after they arrived. The mother of Mr. Steinmetz' children died leaving him with four children living at home. My mother, Mary, was also from Dittel. She was born May 20, 1892, her father was David Zier. Mother came to the United States when she was 19 years of age. She had promised her mother that when her mother died, she would come to America to live with her brother and sister. Her sister, Mrs. John Busch, lives in the Ellensburg area. Her brother was Fred Zier and he lived in West Valley. Later, another brother, Henry Zier, also moved to Montana. My mother worked for about a year for some attorneys as their housekeeper and cook before she married my dad. My grandparents were Abe and Mary Reichert, they were farmers. I was born in 1918 and in those days my grandfather delivered the babies, he delivered me and I know he delivered my younger sister. Grandfather Reichert died about 192O, grandmother died in 1941, I believe she was 88 years old. They lived at Hardin, Montana. My father was an only son and he died in 1927. My folks had the following children: George; Dave; Elizabeth (Kern); Mary (De La Santos); Kathryn (Steinmetz); Mollie (Ziler); Clara (Mayfield); and Lydia (Rogers). Mother died in 1977, she was a member of the Evangelical Church and is buried in the Zillah Cemetery. Mr. Steinmetz married my mother, who had been a widow for about five years. She had eight children, seven living at home. He came to the marriage with four children living at home, his wife had died about a year before. Mother knew Mr. Steinmetz in the "Old Country".. They farmed in Montana before coming to the Yakima Valley where he worked in the beet fields. That was in 1936. Mother's people had settled in the valley, the Ziers, and that is why they decided to make the move to the valley. We lived in Toppenish but farmed on the Granger cut-off, east of Toppenish. My husband, Alex, and I were sweethearts from the first grade. We had four children. Mr. Steinmetz died in 1947 and Alex in 1983. [Information from Katie Steinmetz - CFH - By Louise Potter] -- STEINMETZ Henry Steinmetz was born October 9, 1909, at Dietel, Russia to Henry and Eva (Bongart) Steinmetz. At three years of age he came with his family to the United States, settling in the Billings, Montana area. He later moved to Hardin, Montana where he was raised and educated. He lived in that area for about 20 years. He married Mary Besel on April 28, 1928 at Billings. In 1937, they came to Washington, settling in Toppenish. He farmed in the valley until his retirement in 1961. He was a member of the Toppenish Evangelical Church in which he was very active. He was a former treasurer and trustee. He was survived by his wife, Mary; two sisters, Leah Hert, and Esther Zimmer; and three brothers, Fred, Harry and Victor. [CFH/YHR] -- STENCIL Their story is written up in the History of Zillah as told by: Lizzie Stencil Oswalt Morris. "Jacob and Elizabeth Stencil came from Russia in Feb. of 1907. They came to Colorado to raise sugar beets. They brought three children with them. He farmed in Colorado until 1914., when he contracted tuberculoses. In April 1915 he passed away. He left behind his wife with seven children. By that time some of the farmers that came from the old country with them decided to move to Montana, and they took the Stencil family with them and that is where Elizabeth met Alex Merk. Alex had lost his wife and he was left with four children and the church people decided our mother was a good person to keep his baby, Marie. Dad Merk would come to see his little daughter and that is how they got together. They were married in November 1917 and at that time there was a total of 11 children. About that time they heard the Yakima Valley was going to start growing sugar beets. They were bringing in people to work in the sugar beets and Dad Merk decided that his little daughter and that is how they got together. They were married in November 1917 and at that time there was a total of 11 children. About that time they heard the Yakima Valley was going to start growing sugar beets. They were bringing in people to work in the sugar beets and Dad Merk decided that would be a good place for his bunch of kids. So the Merk family and the Henry Fish family landed in Sunnyside in March 1918. We had to stay for 2 weeks in a hotel which was run by two colored people who were the sweetest people in the world. The hotel was located where Speck Motors is now. We had a tragedy at the hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Fish had two boys and a girl. The two year old girl died of pneumonia. Sorrowful, Mrs. Fish wanted to go home, so they went back to Montana. Dad Merk decided sugar beets wasn't for his kids and he heard about all the money growing on fruit trees in Zillah, so he decided to move here. We got to Zillah in 1918 and believe it or not, Dr. Bartley rented us a house. All of us that could carry a bucket got a job picking pears at the Van Klinken place. We were living on Maple Way when the armistice was signed. They added three more children to the eleven; Esther, Roy and Ray. Out of this Stencil and Merk union, three of the children still reside in Zillah, Jake Stencil, Mrs. Keith Morris (Lizzie), Ray Merk and Wayne Oswalt." -- STREICH George, born in Russia, April 3, 1871. His wife, Katherine, also was born in Russia, April 28, 1885. When they immigrated to the U.S. is not known. Previous to the move to the Yakima Valley they lived in Oregon. In the 1930s they were members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. They moved to the Sunnyside area, where they lived until George died July 14, 1944. His wife, Katherine (Bostron) died several years after his death, July 24, 1959. Both are interred in the Old Sunnyside Cemetery. A son, Jake, born in Portland, Oregon in 1908 was 10 years old when they moved to Sunnyside. He attended school in Sunnyside and did farm work. He married Dorothy Schlosser in 1939. He served in WWII in the U.S. Army. He died March 7, 1975. He had two brothers, George Jr., and Fred, he also had four sisters: Mrs. Marie Cross of Seattle, Wa.; Mrs. Frieda Bennington, born in Aloha, Oregon, September 20, 1913, died November 14, 1988 in Yakima, she left two daughters; Mrs. Mary Chaney of Lake Oswego, Oregon; Mrs. Susie Lippert of Beaverton, Oregon. [YHR] -- STRIKER Fredrick and Mary Katherine (Frank) Striker were also born in Russia, Mary in Kaus November 1, 1886. She was the daughter of Phillip and Katherine (Shoeman) Frank. Fredrick was born in July of 1874. They came to the valley between 1925 and 1928. They had lived in various places, when they were in Utah they raised sugar beets, it seems they were there about a year when they moved to Nebraska. About that time, they found out my parents and family were here members of the Faith Lutheran Church in Toppenish. Fred passed away in 1955 and Mary in 1957. [Information by Lydia Tyacke - CFH - By Louise Potter] -- STROESCHER Otto, born August 12, 1893 in Russia. He came to America with his parents at age eight. The family settled first in South Dakota and later moved to North Dakota. Otto married Marie Stenley. Born to them in Carson, South Dakota was a son, Walter Edward (Oct. 22, 1922). Another son, Raymond was born November 11, 1932 at Mandan, North Dakota. In 1939 the family moved to Puyallup, Wa. Not until 1949 did the family move to Yakima. Otto died March 26, 1962. He left his wife Marie and sons, Walter, Raymond, two brothers and three sisters. Otto is buried in West Hills Memorial Park, west of Yakima. Walter Edward died November 25, 1982 and son Raymond died December 5, 1986 at Las Vegas, Nevada. [YHR] -- STROH Henry, born September 4, 1879 in Kolb, Russia. He was the son of Conrad Stroh and Katherine Wyerson. He married Elizabeth Katherine in Russia in 1902. She was born in Kolb on August 5, 1881. They immigrated to the U.S. in 1907, they had two children. They lived in Tacoma, Washington then moved to Odessa, Wa., where they lived for a number of years. In 1917 they came to the Yakima Valley, and lived in the Wenas area and worked in the beet fields. They also did other labor. Henry was a carpenter by trade. They built a new home in Wapato. Born to them were six children: Henry Jr., Mollie, Alvin, Laura, Leona and Soloman. All are now deceased except 'Sollie'. Henry Sr., died of a heart attack on November 15, 1938. Their daughter Laura, born November 18, 1911 died when they lived in Wapato (October 29, 1925). Alvin, born May 20, 1916, died November 29, 1956. He had served in the U.S. Army during WWII, his rank was Sgt. Katherine's latest years were with her daughter, Mollie. She died September 21, 1958, and is buried in the Tahoma Cemetery at Yakima, Wa. [YVGS] -- STUMP Phillip was born in Russia. He and family came to the Yakima Valley in 1916. They made their home in Wapato. He was a carpenter and did other labor work. They were of the Protestant faith. They lived in the area for a number of years then moved to Portland, Oregon where Phillip died on March 29, 1967. He was survived by his wife, Minnie and three sons, Harry, Harvey, and Carl, and three daughters, Alvina, Pauline and Margie. This limited information was written in the Wapato Independent Newspaper. [WI] -- THALHEIMER My parents were Nikolaus and Pauline (Rohr) Thalheimer. Dad's parents were Peter and Catherine Anna (Kinderknect) Thalheimer and mother's dad was Bartholomew Rohr. They were both born in Marinthal, Russia, he in 1876 and she in 1886. In the old country, they owned land and were pretty well off, but it was taken away from them. Dad had to serve in the Army, they were married while he was in the Army and it was thought that my brother, Henry, was born during that time. They immigrated to the United States in 1907 going to Minnesota or North Dakota, coming to the Yakima Valley about 1920. My dad was a farmer and carpenter. Dad and mother were married in 1905 and had five children; two sons, John and Henry, and three daughters; Pauline (Arena), Mary (Heilman), and Sena (Heilman). Dad died April 5, 1966 at Toppenish and mother died June 26, 1984. They were members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, she was a member of the Altar Guild. They are buried at Elmwood Cemetery. My brother, Henry, was born in 1905 in Marinthal, Russia. He married Magdalena (Lena) Heilman in February of 1926. Lena was born in Bowdle, South Dakota in 1899, the daughter of Mathias and Magdalena (Wingerter) Heilman. Her parents were born in Josefstal and Elsass, Ukraine, Russia and immigrated to the United States in 1898. Henry was a big farmer, he had a model farm on the Fort Road west of Toppenish where he raised hops, sugar beets and potatoes. He was very active in his church, helping to build the church and rectory. He was President of the Toppenish Rodeo Association from 1960 until the time of his death in 1975. In 1960, he received the Outstanding Farmer of the Year award and was a member of the State Sugar Association for a period of time. Henry and Lena had five children, Robert, Albert, Henry, Mary Jane (Hogan), and Dorothy (Potter). Sena was born in 1907 at Marinthal, Russia. She worked in Oakland, California, prior to her marriage to Matthew (Matt) Heilman in 1933 at Toppenish. Matthew was Lena's brother. Following her marriage they moved to the lower valley. She took great pride in growing many beautiful plants and flowers, and "those who tasted the good bread she made will never forget". She died June 13, 1989 at Yakima. She was survived by three daughters, Lillian (Kott), Marilyn (Patnode), Shirley (Britz) and three sons, James, Ivan and Robert. Her husband passed away in 1977. My wife, Leona, and I are owners of City Electric in Toppenish. [Information from John Thalheimer - CFH - By Louise Potter ] -- TRAUTMAN Adam, born June 1, 1886 in Hofentahl, Russia. He came to the U.S. as a teenager with his parents. They homesteaded at Warden, Wa. Adam married Katherine Hockstatter on January 26, 1913 in Warden. They moved to Yakima in 1923, and farmed in the East Selah area until retiring. They were charter members of the Stone Church and where he was a deacon for many years. His wife preceded him in death, she died in 1971. Also, a son Herbert, died in 1933. He was survived by three sons, William of Seattle, Emil of Bothell and David of Mabton; and a daughter, Mrs. Jon (Freda) Gering of Yakima. Shaw & Sons in charge of funeral arrangements. [S & S] -- TREISE Alexander was born in Gnadentau, Russia on April 19, 1876. He married Marie Katherine Walters on February 16, 1902. She was born in Gnadentau on July SO, 1879. This couple immigrated to America arriving April 6, 1907, with their two young sons. Alex who was born March 24, 1904 and Henry on December 9, 1906. They made their first home at Garden City, Kansas. As many of the Germans from Russia they too worked in the beet fields and other farm work. They stayed in Kansas four or five years, after which time they moved to Sugar City, Idaho. While living in Idaho four more children were born, Harry on October 24, 1913, Frieda on May 5, 1915, Emma on September 8, 1916, Lydia, June 5, 1918. In 1921 the family moved to the Yakima Valley, bought some acreage near McKinley, where some of the children attended McKinley School. A son, Alfred, was born to them November 25, 1922. They sold this acreage and bought a farm about 2 miles south of Wapato. They became members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. Marie Katherine died in September, 1952 at the age of 73. Alexander lived to the age of 90 years and 11 months. He died March 19, 1967. [Information from Henry Triese - By Frieda Brulotte] -- WAGENMAN Jacob Wagenman was a farmer in the Sunnyside area and also a cannery worker. He was born in Russia in 1883 to Peter and Katherine (Deirkheim) Wagenman and passed away at Toppenish in 1956. His wife, Christina, was the daughter of Christ and Magdalin (Ehl) Schmidt and was born in Bergdorf, Russia in 1891. Mrs. Wagenman passed away January 13, 1968. She had a brother John Schmidt, and a sister, Rose Kirschenman. They had the following children; Katherine Dewald, Martha Graff, Rosie Dorn, Emma Walker and Christian, Pete, Adolph and Henry Wagenman. They were members of the Toppenish Assembly of God Church and are buried in the Zillah Cemetery. They had moved to the valley in the early 40s. [CFH] -- WAGNER Carl G. Wagner, whose father was Jacob Wagner, was born in Russia May 26, 1905. He and his wife, Barbara, had five children; Barbara (Walsh), Charlene (Brown), Charles, Louis and John Wagner. He died August 27, 1960 at Toppenish, having lived in the valley for 25 years. He had two brothers; Jacob and John, and four sisters; Charlotte (Kramer), Mary (Freauff), Freda (Kissler) and Clara (Richard). He was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Toppenish and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery. [CFH] -- WAGNER John W. Wagner was a painter by profession. He and his wife, Dora (Aichele), had lived in the valley since 1924. He was the son of Adam and Katherine (Artel) Wagner and was born in Odessa, Russia September 27, 1870. Mrs. Wagner was the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Vogt) Aichele and was born in Bessarabia June 4, 1872. Mr. & Mrs. Wagner had eight children, four daughters; Dora (Tetz), Rose (Scott), Emma (Kurtz) and Olga (Nordwall), and four sons, Jack, Ted, Dick and Walter. They were members of the Toppenish Seventh Day Adventist Church and are buried in Elmwood Cemetery. Mrs. Wagner was survived also by a brother, John Aichele. Mr. Wagner was survived by two brothers, Fred and Peter and two sisters; Katherine (Keisz) and Christine (Hagele). Following Mr. Wagner's death, Mrs. Wagner moved to Goldendale to be near her daughter Olga, where she passed away in 1966. Mr. & Mrs. Wagner were married December 26, 1892. Mr. Wagner passed away in 1955. [CFH] -- WAHL William, born in Wittenberg, Germany in 1878, he was the son of John Wahl from Wittenberg (1845). William's mother was Wilhelmina Kuk, born October 3, 1850 in Russia. The Wahl family immigrated to the U.S. and settled at Burlington, Colorado, where John died at age 61 in 1906. William married Katherine (Katie) Adolph, daughter of August Adolph and Katherina Richter. August Adolph was born March 23, 1862 at Brienne, Bessarabia (Romania). August came to the Yakima Valley after his wife, Katherina died on March 12, 1930. He lived to the age of 86 and died April 25, 1949 at Yakima, Washington. The John Wahl family came to America in March 1890, they settled at Scotland, South Dakota. In March 1890 they moved to Burlington, Colorado, then nine miles north of Bethune, Colorado. His son, William, married Katherine Adolph, she was born at Brienne, Bessarabia, So. Russia on October 18, 1887. She came to the United States with her parents in 1888. After her marriage they lived at Bethune, Colorado; Odessa, Washington; Wapato, Wa.; and Union Gap, Wa. William was a farmer, Katie a housewife. Born to them were: Alma Hilda, born July 29, 1906 at Burlington, Colorado. She married Theodore R. Abener, they had two children. They were living at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho at the time of her death, January 3, 1982. Mabel, born June 27, 1908 at Odessa, Wa. She married John Bastrom. She died November 19, 1946 while living at White Swan, Wa. They had two children, Perry and Gloria. The Wahl family were members of the Lutheran Church. Katherine preceded William in death, she died February 1, 1956 in Yakima and William March 20, 1958. Both are interred at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. [Information from Karen (Abener) Otto (granddaughter) 1989] -- WALTER Conrad, born in Walter, Russia in 1887. He came to the United States with his wife, Elizabeth. She was born October 19, 1888. They immigrated in 1913 and settled at Odessa, Washington. They had one child, Frederick, born in Russia. In 1919 they moved to the Yakima Valley and farmed in the Wapato area until 1965. Elizabeth died September 4, 1944. They were members of Hope Lutheran Church. After leaving the farm, Conrad moved to Yakima to live with his son. He died June 3, 1973, he was survived by his three sons: Frederick F. of Redding, Calif., David of Yakima, and Alfred E. of Wapato. David was born in Odessa September 13, 1914 and was raised and educated in Wapato. He married Elsie Gans in 1935. They moved to Yakima in 1950. David was a medical technologist at Central Memorial Hospital until his retirement in 1972. He died in 1987. [K&K/YHR] --WALYER Johnas, born in Russia January 15, 1851, the son of Johnas Walyer and Frances Foltz. Johnas (son) married Katherine Burkaretsmeier in Russia. They had a son named Sylvester born in Russia. The Walyer families came to the United States in the early 1900s and settled in Yakima. Sylvester and Katherine lost an infant son, Albert, in October 1925 and an infant daughter in September of 1926. Both are buried in Calvary Cemetery. Johnas died in 1927 and Katherine in 1928. [S&S/YVGS] -- WASSEMILLER My dad, Alexander Wassemiller, and my mother, Katerina (Erlich) Wassemiller, were both born in Oberdorf, Russia. Dad's folks were David and Eva (Heinz) Wassemiller and mother's folks were George and Eva (Graaf) Erlich. They were married in Scherbakov, Russia in 1910 and moved to this country in 1913, moving to the Yakima Valley in 1937. My dad was a farmer and farmed 400 acres south and west of Toppenish on the South Wapato Road. Part of it was in sugar beets, part pasture for cattle, he also raised corn and alfalfa. My dad served four years in the Russian Army, he was a guard and was one of the guards that protected Stalin when he would be at their base. My folks were married at that time. After his release from the Army, things were getting quite unruly and he was afraid war would break out, so they came to the United States. The folks received letters from Russia but they were so badly censored they quit writing. My folks went to Philadelphia as my folks relatives were living there. My dad and mother had seven children, Emanuel, who died as an infant on the boat, Edward, Emanuel, Raymond, Reuben, Robert and myself (Alvina Kuh). My dad died in 1958 and my mother in 1983. They were members of the Lutheran Church at Wapato and are buried in the Zillah Cemetery. [Information by Alvina Kuh - CFH - By Louise Potter] -- WASSEMILLER / WASSEMULLER Alexander, born in Russia on February 12, 1885. He was the son of David Wassemiller and Eva Heinz. In 1910 he married Katrina Erlich, daughter of George Erlich and Eva Graff, she was born in Oberdorff, Russia October 1, 1890. Their immigration date is not known, but settled in Colorado before coming to the Yakima Valley in 1937. They lived in the Wapato and Toppenish area. They became members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. Alexander died in 1958, he was survived by Katrina and five sons and one daughter. Katrina lived to the age of 92, she died July 8,1983, she had resided at Toppenish. She was a member of the Lutheran Church. Their sons were: Edward of Yakima, Emanuel and Raymond both of Toppenish, Robert of Prineville, Oregon and their daughter was Alvina Kuh of Toppenish. A son, Reuben, who was born in Windsor, Colorado in 1919, died June 14, 1975. He had been a carpenter in the Wapato area. He left two sons, Larry and Terry of Seattle. Katrina's funeral was held in the Chapel of the Colonial Funeral Home, she is buried in the Zillah cemetery. [YHR] -- WEBER Married on Wednesday, June 19, 1912, were Miss Emelia Nathan of Temvik, North Dakota, and Christian Weber, from Zeeland, North Dakota. While residing in Zeeland, four children were born to the couple. In 1919-1920, Christian was advised to move to a warmer climate because of his health. It was Gottlieb Weber, Chris' oldest brother, who told the Webers about Yakima. Chris and Emelia packed up their belongings and with the children headed west. They arrived in Yakima in 1921 and bought 40 acres of farmland in the Gromore district. Christian had 15 acres of orchard planted before he died April 22, 1931, leaving a wife and nine children, the youngest only six weeks old. October 27, 1937, Rev. Gottlob Keppler of Wapato, united Emelia Nathan Weber and Mr. William Broeckel. Mr. Broeckel moved his new family to his wheat ranch at LaCrosse, Washington. One child, Randall Otto, was born to William and Emelia before Mr. Broeckel's death in 1941. Once again, Emelia had to move her family to Yakima where she resided until her death, July 5, 1980. She was buried close to her first husband, Christian Weber, at the Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima. All but one of the ten children are still residing in the state of Washington. A family tradition, The Weber Family Reunion, has been held the 4th of July week-end for nearly forty years. Christian and Emelia's children are Anita (Gordon); Milton Christian; John; Alvin; Walter (Wally); Eugene (Ike); Tilly (Williams); Edwin (Eddie); and, Betty Jean (Laidler). My grandfather, Christian Weber, was born October 3, 1883 at Worms, South Russia. He was the son of Katherina Trautmann and Johann Weber. Katherina was born October 4, 1856 in Worms, Freuflenhadal, South Russia, the daughter of Magdalena Munsch and Karl Trautmann. She died June 13, 1934 in Zeeland, North Dakota. Johann was the son of Sophia Ranchler and Fredrich Weber. Johann was born October 23, 1855 in Worms, Neufernudental, South Russia and died June 5, 1920 in Zeeland, North Dakota. Johann and Katherina were married in Worms, Russia in 1876 and immigrated to the United States, landing at the port of New York, December 1885. They settled in Selz, N.D., and then to Zeeland, N.D., continuing as farmers. They were among the founders of St. Johannes Reformed Church of Zeeland. Sixteen children were born to Johann and Katherina with ten still living by 1900. My grandmother, Emelia Nathan, was born at 3:00 a.m. August 23, 1894, baptized on the 30th of October, 1894 at Helenenthal, Russia. She was the daughter of Heinrich Nathan and Elisabetha Wohl. Heinrich was the son of Heinrich Nathan and was born the 12th of September 1865 in Bonin, Helenthal, So. Russia, baptized and confirmed in Neufreudenthal, and married in Odessa October 14, 1884 by Pastor Brobst. Heinrich died in Linton, N.D. March 22, 1921 at 11:00 a.m. and was buried March 25th, Good Friday, at 2:00 p.m. Elisabetha Wohl was born in 1863 in Alexanderhilf, confirmed in Neufreudenthal, South Russia, by Pastor Brobst. Elisabetha's parents were Carolina (Steffen) Steven and Heinrich Wohl. Emelia was seven years old when she emigrated with her parents and eight other children, leaving Odessa, R. the 15th of September 1901. Their vessel was not permitted to dock at the U.S. port, forcing them to land in Canada, entering into the United States at Pembina, N.D. First locating at Zeeland, N.D., a year later they took a homestead in Omio Township, Emmons Co., N.D., farming 160 acres under the Homestead Act and dated May 21, 1908. Emelia's mother, Elisabetha, was referred to and highly thought of as a country doctor. Emelia was an excellent cook and could raise just about any crop or animal and had learned many of her mother's "doctoring ways". To the memory of Christ Weber... THE WILLOWLAWN--ETERNAL-- there's a willowlawn Eternal for the good they do below where the flowers bloom Eternal and the crystal waters flow where a little bunch of sunshine that's a turnip' dark to dawn for the Lovelight! home, and reason in the name of Willowlawn we're just a little neighborhood of people tried and true please God guide us by thy wisdom give us able hands to do by Little Bear the Indian poet This poem was hand-written on a piece of paper and given to my grandmother by Little Bear. [Information by Shirley (Weber) Schmunk - By Louise Potter] -- WEIDNER Gus, born in Russia in 1892, came to the United States as a child. The family settled in Oklahoma and lived there until 1936 when they moved to Selah, Wa. He was an orchard worker for Cohodas, Lancaster and Frank Fruit Company from 1936 until his retirement in 1969. Gus died May 9, 1977, he was survived by his wife, Clara, five brothers and two sisters: Ralph and Dan of Lodi, California; Tobias of Woodward, Oklahoma; Paul of Fargo, Oklahoma; Adolph of Wichita, Kansas; Mrs. Leah Frederick of Long Beach, Ca; and Mrs. Lydia Hohwiler of Fargo, Oklahoma. Funeral Services were held in Shaw and Sons Chapel, burial in Terrace Height Memorial Park. [YHR] -- WEIGEL Peter, was born in Odessa, Russia in 1897. He came to the United States with his parents in 1902. They had lived in Carlsview, North Dakota and also for a time at Aberdeen, South Dakota. He moved to the Yakima Valley from Portland in 1954. His wife, Mary, came to the Yakima Valley in 1938, her first husband was Mr. Freidt. Mary was born in Odessa, Russia in 1902, and with her parents came to the United States in 1914, settling in North Dakota. Peter was preceded in death by a wife, Regina, in 1951, a second wife, Othilla (1887-1962). He and Mary Glaser were married in 1963. They were members of St. Paul's Cathedral, she was a member of the Altar Society. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In June 1971, while returning to Yakima from a visit to North Dakota, they were in an automobile accident and she died of her injuries on June 9, 1971. Her survivors were her husband, Peter (who was hospitalized), two sons: George and Leo Freidt, both from Los Angeles, Cal; two daughters, Lorraine Farringer and Lillian Mello, several stepdaughters. Peter died June 26, 1978, survivors included Mrs. John (Lenora ) Urlacher and Mrs. George (Delves) Freidt, three brothers and three sisters. [LMFH] -- WEIPPERT Mr. & Mrs. Otto Weippert moved to the Yakima Valley in 1944. He worked for the U & I Sugar Company and Del Monte from which he retired. Mr. Weippert was born in Bessarabia, Russia in 1898 and came to the United States in 1905 at 7 years of age. His parents were Chris and Kristine (Traboski) Weippert. In 1920 he married Rose Anna Albrecht, who was born in Odessa, Russia in 1898. Her parents were Christ and Barbara (Koop) Albrecht. They were married at Streeter, North Dakota. Mr. Weippert farmed in North Dakota until 1936 when they to Montana, where he also farmed, and in 1944 moved to the valley. They had nine children; Bill, Arthur, Minnie (Day), Verna (Eversole), Irene (Weible), Violet (Dennis), Esther (Wells), Helen (Luedecke), and Bernice (Cain). Mrs. Weippert also had a sister Lydia (Schumacher) and two brothers; Dave and Dan Albrecht. They were members of the Toppenish Assembly of God Church and are buried at Zillah Cemetery. [CFH] -- WEISHAAR Fred was born on September 16, 1892 in Russia. He immigrated to the U.S. to South Dakota, then to Montana before coming to the Yakima Valley. He worked for the Yakima Cement Products Company. He was married and the family belonged to the Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima. After several years of illness, he died November 28, 1961. His survivors were his wife, Johanna and four daughters, five sons, five brothers and three sisters. Keith and Keith Funeral Home was in charge of burial at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. [GLC] -- WEISS Conrad, born in Bessarabia, November 29, 1864. He was the son of George Weiss. He, with his wife, Wilhelmina, nee Weishaar, and infant son, August, immigrated to Canada in 1896. After a short time in Alberta, Province in Canada, they came to the U.S. and settled in Eastern Washington at Quincy. They made their living farming, and became naturalized citizens. About 1907 they moved to the Yakima Valley and settled in the Ahtanum area, and joined the Ahtanum Congregational Church. Their children were: August, born in Russia in 1896, married Sarah Ruedner; Mathilda, born 1898, married Reinhold Radke; Henry, born in 1903 in eastern Washington, married Ethel Berndt; Emmanuel (E.J.), born 1906, married Hazel Backus/Bakes; Albert, born in Yakima, October 25, 1908, married Ethel C. Oder, he was a fruit grower, is now retired, lives in Yakima; Theodore (Ted), born January 29, 1911; Esther, born 1913, married Real Sullens; and Elsie, born in 1915, married Ernest Fierst. Conrad died at age 59, November 5, 1924. He is interred at Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima. Wilhelmina was remarried, her second husband was Phillip Dormaier, she was born in 1875 and died April 10, 1953, they were living at Dryden, Washington at that time. She is also buried in Tahoma Cemetery. [Information from Albert Weiss, 1989. By Frieda Brulotte] -- WEIST Emil, born in Russia in 1905. He came to the United States at the age of two with his parents to North Dakota where he grew up. They moved to Yakima in 1918 and for most of his life lived in the Yakima area. Mr. Weist was in the road construction business for 50 years, retiring in 1974. During the last eight years he owned his own business "Emil Weist & Son". He was a member of the Associated General Contractors. Mr. Weist attended the First Baptist Church. He died on July 1, 1981, and was survived by his wife, Opal, daughter, Kathleen Carner and son, Ron. He also left three sisters, Elsie Walker, Emma Roberts, and Lydia Garrison. He was preceded in death by a brother Ray (1907-1969). Ray had also been in construction business. [YHR] -- WEIST Leonard George. He and his family are listed in the 1910 Yakima County census. Leonard, age 27, born in Russia, both his parents born in Russia. He was naturalized in 1910. Wife, Hedwina, age 26, born in Russia. Daughters: Josephine, age 6, born in Canada; Lizzie, age 4, born in Canada; Frances, age 3, born in Canada (twin to Joe). Sons: Joe, age 3, born in Canada and Leonard, age 2, born in Canada. Occupation shows that Leonard worked in a bowling alley. The birth of the last child listed would indicate they came to the U.S. in 1909 or 1910. Born after this census was a daughter, Catherine. Hedwina was born in Russia on October 17, 1883, daughter of Martin Herzog and Catherine Weisberger. She died March 26, 1929. Son, Joseph, married Marion Nagler, daughter of Frank and Sarah Nagler. Marion was born in Yakima February 2, 1904, married Joseph in 1931. Joseph preceded her in death, he died September 9, 1937, she died April 21, 1986. Burials were in the Calvary Cemetery. [1910 Yakima County Census/YHR] -- WEIST Martin, a son of Martin Weist and Sophia Black, was born in Russia on November 11, 1838 and died March 16, 1922. His wife, Anna Mary, was born in Russia in 1843 and died May 1, 1915, both are buried in Calvary Cemetery. This information was taken from the cemetery listing. Sebastian, son of Martin, born April 20, 1865 in Russia, died April 1, 1933. He was the husband of Theresa Baker. Their son, Anthony, born in 1897, married Theresa Rohrich on August 10, 1920, in Yakima. She was born in Strassburg, Russia, daughter of Stephen Rohrich and Philomena Wastel. Anthony died in 1954. Other WEIST listings were: Carl S. Weist, 1880- March 3, 1963 Louise, 1883-October 18, 1944 Theresa (Roether) Weist, age 79, buried March 30, 1954. These were early families in the Yakima Valley. [1910 Yakima County Census/YVGS] -- WEISZ My dad, Emanuel Weisz, arrived at the port of Baltimore about 1909. He came to America with his mother and stepfather (his father, Dan Weisz, died in Bessarabia). He had brothers, John and Reinhold, and a sister, Hulda. He had a half brother, John Naasz and a half sister, Frieda Naasz. Dad was born September 1, 1891 at Bessarabia. My mother was Mary Elherd, she was born in April of 1895 at Jud, North Dakota. She had three brothers; Gustov, John and Rudolph, and two sisters, Emily and Otthila. Mom and dad were married in North Dakota and came to the valley in 1935. Dad worked in the orchards, mainly for Morrison, Black and McCurdy. My Uncle John lived in Zillah, and Uncle Reinhold lived in Toppenish, that is the main reason we came to the Valley. There were six children in our family, Teofeld was the oldest, then Edna, Herman, myself (Emil), Henry and Iva. I was born at Jordan, Montana where my folks homesteaded out in the sage brush. We lived in a sod house there. We lived in North Dakota, Montana, and South Dakota before coming to the Yakima Valley. Dad's brother, Reinhold, was born August 17, 1888 in Bessarabia, and died in Toppenish in 1965. His wife, Amelia, died in 1943. They had a daughter, Ruth. Rein worked for various farmers in the valley, coming here in about 1930. My dad died in 1960 at Toppenish. [Information by Emil Weiss - CFH - By Louise Potter] -- WELLS My mother, who was born Bertha Mary Link, was born at Jitimeier, Ukraine, Russia, which is near Odessa, Russia. She was born in 1873 and came to the United States in 1892 when she was 19 years of age. She came with her family, her father was August Link and her mother's maiden name was Holstein. They were both born in Bavaria. She had one sister and three brothers. They went to friends in Akron, Colorado. My grandparents were there about two years and then came by wagon to Albany, Oregon. My parents were married there and my oldest sister was born there. The grandparents moved to Camrose, Alberta, Canada and my folks moved to Dot, Washington, near Bickleton, where my sister, Frances was born in 1900. The folks then moved to Camrose where Roland, Hester, Clarence and Vernon were born. We then moved to Montana for one year, then to Athol, Idaho, where I was born. We came to Toppenish in 1917. My dad was Charles E. Wells, his mother was a Febus. My parents were divorced in 1918. He farmed while in the valley and then returned to Camrose where he farmed and had a sand quarry. He was also a steam engineer; he ran steam engines for threshing machines, harvesting various crops while in the Yakima Valley. My mother died September 1, 1944 at Toppenish. Beside her children, she was survived by a sister and three brothers in Canada. [Information by Herbert Wells - CFH - By Louise Potter] -- WENTZ Frank Wentz was born in Russia March 17, 1865, the son of Peter and Katrina (Thomas) Wentz. Mr. Wentz died at Toppenish November 27, 1949. He was a farmer on Route 2, Toppenish and a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church. He was survived by the following children: Mike Wentz of Esmond, North Dakota; Frank and John of Toppenish; Joe of Yakima; Pete and Nick of North Dakota; Elizabeth Schneider of Toppenish; Celia Fierst of Yakima; and Marion Stringer, Anchorage, Alaska. Mr. Wentz was married to Antanna Harntz, daughter of Frank and Elizabeth (Wolfe) Harntz, she had lived in the United States 59 years at the time of her death. She was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery. [CFH] -- WENTZ John J. Wentz was born in Odessa, Russia May 19, 1877. He was the son of Joseph Wentz and Mayland Martel. He had lived in the community 27 years and was a farmer. He died October 4, 1947 at Toppenish. [CFH] -- WENTZ Katherine R. Wentz was born in Odessa, Russia May 23, 1904. She was the daughter of Joe and Katherine (Martel) Heilman. The family immigrated to North Dakota through Canada in 1906 where she received her education. They came to Toppenish in 1914, her family lived on Germantown Road. April 26, 1925, she married John F. Wentz. Mr. Wentz was born March 16, 1902 at Harvey, North Dakota, and had been a Yakima Valley resident for 52 years at the time of his death, November of 1975. Mrs. Wentz enjoyed crocheting, handicrafts and sewing. She was noted for her delicious homemade breads. Mr. Wentz was a retired farmer, a member of the FOE No. 289 of Yakima, and the Moose Lodge of Sunnyside. They were survived by the following children: Ray Wentz of Wapato; Albert of Toppenish; John of Union Gap; William of Sunnyside; Robert of Bow, Wa., and Ralph of Houston, Texas. Mrs. Wentz was preceded in death by a sister, Marie (Heilman) Wentz in Mr. & Mrs. Wentz were members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church and are buried at Elmwood Cemetery. [CRH/YHR] -- WENTZ Marie (Heilman) Wentz was born in Odessa, Russia, December 10, 1896. She was the daughter of Joseph and Kathryn (Martel) Heilman. She came to the United States with her family when she was 8 years old. The family first lived in North Dakota. She married her husband, Frank Wentz, in 1917 at Seltz, North Dakota, and they continued living there until coming to Toppenish in 1921. She had lived in Toppenish 48 years prior to her death October 6, 1969. Marie's husband was born in Esmond, North Dakota, the son of Frank and Antanna (Harntz) Wentz. Frank and Marie were members of the St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Toppenish. Frank was a member of the Knights of Columbus and passed away in April of 1975. They farmed east of Toppenish. Mr. & Mrs. Wentz were survived by the following children: Conrad, Pete, Frank, Roy, Mary (Lusby), Catherine (Eves), and Dorothy (Thompson). Mrs. Wentz was also survived by a sister, Mrs. John Wentz. Mr. Wentz was survived by four brothers, John, Joe, Nick and Pete and three sisters, Elizabeth (Schneider), Cecilia (German) and Marion (Stringer). [YHR/CFH] -- WENZ Francis Wenz was born in Russia March 8, 1886 and died at Toppenish August 9, 1935. She was the daughter of D. Ball and Katie Wagner, both born in Russia. She had lived 28 years in the state, was a member of the Catholic Church and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery. A son, Frank, preceded her in death July 13, 1930 at Zillah. [CFH] -- WERTENBERGER by George Wertenberger I was born in Kolb, Russia to George Wertenberger and Mary Katherine Bauer, in 1903. My mother was born in Frank, my father in Kolb. We left Saratov January 23rd, 1907 and landed in Galveston, Texas. We went to Ritzville, Washington where the Wertenberger and Bauer families were waiting for us. They had a house and everything ready for us, everything furnished. My dad worked in the flour mill one year, the next year we went to Nampa, Idaho to work in the sugar beets. Next we farmed one of John Wertenberger's farms, between Ritzville and Odessa, for four years. My mother couldn't stand the dust so we moved to Odessa for three years. That's where the head man of U & I Sugar Company, who knew dad from Nampa, hired dad to get several families to move to Toppenish to do sugar beets. He got the Eichlers, the Woitts, Lessers, Lufts, Strohs and a few others I don't remember, to come to the valley to work sugar beets by contract. We were lucky, we got the biggest farmer on the reservation, the Benz Brothers, seven grown boys then, and a mighty fine family, they talked German too. That was in 1916. We worked beets for two years then bought an orchard west of Wapato until 1942, when my brother, Art, and I bought an orchard at Parker Heights. I retired when I was 75. Art and his two boys run the place now, Jim and Ken, and their boys. Ken has two boys, Jeff and Brad. Jim's boys, Kevin, and the twins, Cory and Chris. I remember a little of the old country; the house, the churches, but mostly I remember playing with a little dog. I remember the archway from the house to the back house, it was a pretty nice house, wood floors, I remember clothes hanging to dry, I remember being down by the Metz River where we washed. I don't remember going to or coming from the river but I do remember the big rocks in the river. I remember the day the Titanic sank, all the neighbors came to our house, they sang and prayed...none of our people were on the ship. I was the oldest, then my brother, Carl, we were both born in Russia, then Minnie, Solomon, Irene, Roy, Art, and Henry, who were all born at Ritzville. There were two children born in Russia that died as babies. The reason we went to Ritzville was my dad had cousins, George, Peter and John Wertenberger, and on my mother's side, her uncle, Jacob Bauer, the Heins and Schaefers, they were all in farming, still have cousins there. I was naturalized in Yakima in 1940. The name of the ship we came to the United States on was F. MISSLER, Bremen, I still have the leather billfold the passport was in, also my visa. -- WERTENBERGER Henry, born in Kolb, Russia on September 3, 1890. He and Anna Elizabeth Uhrich were married June 7, 1908 in Kolb, she was born in Frank, Russia, the daughter of Conrad Uhrich and Katherine Greenwalt, November 6, 1890. Conrad Uhrich's parents were Paul Uhrich and Anna Margaret Sell, both from Frank, Russia. Henry came to the U.S. in 1912 and Anna and their two children, Pauline and Henry came in 1913. The family settled at Odessa, Wa. where some of Anna's family lived. A daughter, Leona, was born to them in Odessa, and another daughter, Dorothy, was born at Ruff (a small town near Odessa). The primary work at that time was wheat farming, Henry was a hard worker, that type of work required hard work. The Wertenberger family moved to the Yakima Valley in 1924, working first in the fruit orchards. They soon went to farming for themselves, settling near Wapato where they bought acreage on what is known as "The Satus". They joined the Pilgrim Congregational Church, both took an active part in the church, Anna contributed much to the Ladies Aid Society of the church. Both obtained their naturalization, Henry on March 5, 1938, and Anna on September 29, 1939. Henry was still farming when he had a heart attack which took his life at the age of 65, October 28, 1955. The farm was sold, Anna's health failed and she required nursing care for quite a few years. She died January 28, 1968. Their daughter, Pauline, preceded them in death. The Wertenbergers are both buried in the Reservation Community Memorial Park at Wapato. [Information from Leona (Wertenberger) Hardt/MFH] -- WILHELM Peter, born in Kolb, Russia on February 18, 1868. His parents were Fred Wilhelm and Katherine Thiel. Peter married Millie (Amelia) ?, she was born in Russia July 15, 1875, the daughter of Jacob and Dorothy Elizabeth Wilhelm. This family immigrated to the U.S. about 1900, a daughter was born to them in Tacoma December 24, 1905, she died May 31, 1923. This family lived in the lower valley and were mostly farm laborers. Mollie died March 1, 1934 and Peter on January 10, 1937. Both are buried in the Tahoma Cemetery at Yakima. A son, Carl Wilhelm, born in Tacoma in 1909, lived most of his life in the Yakima Valley where he was a farm laborer. He married Annie Dewald, she was born June 13, 1908 in Kansas City, Mo., daughter of Conrad and Catherine Elizabeth Dewald, both born in Russia. The Dewald Family came to the Yakima Valley in 1922. Conrad died January 19, 1958 and Katherine June 4, 1946. Both interred in Tahoma Cemetery. [YVGS/YHR] -- WILLMAN David, born in Frank, Russia on April 17, 1889. He was the son of John Willman and Katherine Kinder. He married Henriette Fahrenbruch in Frank. She was born June 24, 1903, the daughter of David Fahrenbruch and Marie Koch. In the village, Frank, the children all attended school. David and Henriette immigrated to the U.S. in 1923. The living conditions in Russia at that time were undergoing a big change. The communist system was in control of the entire country. Severe restrictions were imposed on all the people. All properties were confiscated from them. This young couple was able to leave Russia. The Willman's settled in Washington state and to the Yakima Valley. While enroute to the U.S., a daughter was born to them. Their children were: Clara, born enroute to he U.S. February 28, 1923, she married Homer Triboulet, they had two children, Richard and Roxanne, they lived in Yakima; Ruth Newton, born October 30, 1924, she died April 30, 1977; Lillian Schnell, born June 20, 1926, she is now widowed and lives in Portland, Oregon, she has two children; Martha Lehman, she has three children, Michael, Julie and Joni; and David, born in 1934, the only son, is single and lives in Portland. At the present Henriette lives in Portland, Or., and her daughter, Lillian, also. Mr. Willman died August 28, 1968. [Information from Clara Triboulet.] -- WILLMAN John, born in Frank, Russia in 1884. He was the son of John Willman and Katherine Kinder. His wife, Lena, was born in Russia in 1902. She was the daughter of George Walter and Mary Beck. When they came to the Yakima Valley is not known. They were married in Yakima September 26, 1920, that these families were early settlers is evident by the date of the marriage. They lived at Outlook and in the area of Sunnyside. John lived to the age of 80, he died July 9, 1959. He is interred in Tahoma Cemetery. [YVGS] -- WINGARDNER Caspar and family are listed in the 1910 Yakima County Census: Caspar, age 35, born in Russia, his naturalization was in 1898. Wife, Marguerite, age 35, born in Russia. Basil, age 10, born in South Dakota. Joseph, age 8, born in Washington. Lena, age 4, born in Washington. William, age 7 months, born in Washington. -- WINGARTNER Kasimir Wingartner, Jr., with his parents, Kasimir and Katharina (German/Garman) Wingerter and his wife, Magdalena Dortea Pfluger, came to the United States in 1898. They lived at Bowdle, South Dakota before moving to Washington State, Ritzville and to the Yakima Valley about 1908. They were both born at Elsass, Ukraine, Russia. She was the daughter of John and Anastasia (Schoen/Schell) Pfluger. They were married in Russia and had a child who was born and died there. Mr. Wingartner was a farmer and carpenter and died at Toppenish in 1916 at 44 years of age. Mrs. Wingartner married Sebastian Zerr in 1921, Mr. Zerr died in 1929. Magdalena died in 1949. She was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery. She was survived by the following children: Albert, Joseph, Bill and Walter Wingartner, and Lena (DeLagasse), and Philomena (Wolfe) Hauck. [Information by Barbara (Wingardner) Toop and Thelma Wingardner By Louise Potter] -- WINGENBACH Alexius and Eva came to Yakima in 1934 from Raleigh, North Dakota. His birth place is not known. Eva was born in Grassha, Bessarabia to Christian Braun and Sara Schreiner. Alexius and Eva were married October 13, 1919 in Raleigh. Eva had been a parish cook at St. Paul's and St. Joseph Catholic Church. She was a member of St. Paul's Cathedral and the Legion of Mary. She died October 18, 1985, her survivors were: Mrs. Rufina Johnson of Yakima, Sister Bernadette Wingenbach of Yakima, a brother, John Braun of Bismarck, N.D.; two sisters, Agnes Bonogofsky, Montana, and Rufina Schaff of Seattle. She was preceded in death by her husband, a daughter, Esther Beehler, two sons, John J. and an infant son. Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at St. Paul's Cathedral, burial in Calvary Cemetery. [YHR] -- WINGERTER Johannes Anton "John" was born forty miles northwest of Odessa in the village of Elsass (Russian name - Cherbanka) on May 9, 1900. He was the son of Antonius Wingerter (born June 9, 1933) and Barbara Block (July 22, 1886-March 22, 1936) who brought him to the United States of America for greater freedom. John was a direct descendant of Peter Wingerter, who was one of the founders of Elsass, in 1808. The Wingerter family was originally from the Rhineland Palatinate of west central Germany. The Wingerter's left Russia via Antwerp, Belgium to New York's Ellis Island on Red Star Line Steamer Zeeland on June 29, 1903. They made their way to Linton, Emmons County, North Dakota, to farm as on the steppes of the Ukraine. On July 11, 1925, John married a tall strong and attractive woman by the name of Mary Zacher, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Linton. Mary was born March 12, 1905, the daughter of Philip Zacher (June 29, 1875-April 27, 1958) and Katherine Wilhelm (January l, 1878- August 25, 1947) of the village Josephstal (Russian name Sergiewka) located on the left bank of the Baraboi River, about twenty miles west of Odessa, Russia. The Zachers left the Ukraine on a cattle boat in 1910. The reason for this odyssey was for an idea Phillip Zacher had for adventure, a better life and to be away from his father. After ten years of marriage and working the Dakota soil, John, Mary and their three children, Katherine Theresa, Barbara, and John Phillip, moved west to Yakima in the spring of 1935. In a caravan, they were joined by John and Johanna Feist (Mary's sister), Philip and Katherine Zacher and their daughter Theresa, and John and Barbara Jochim and their children. John Wingerter spent his Yakima life working as a carpenter for local contractor, George Moate. He was a member of the Carpenter's Union and a firm believer in the labor movement. Socially, he played accordion at German dances and weddings and would drive Mary crazy every time he pulled out the squeeze box to serenade visiting friends and family at home on South 18th Avenue. His stubby callused fingers hit the keyboard like 2x4's. His whistling was a hissing sound which further drove Mary crazy. Other than listening to Lawrence Welk, whom he said he knew in North Dakota, or Myron Florin, he enjoyed cutting hair. Stylish cuts vogue to the Marine Corps were the end results. To save money he even cut his own. He worked hard and honest. He loved hard, and disciplined hard, as all of his twenty-one grandchildren will remember. He never bought on time, it was always cash. It was always a Dodge parked in the garage free and clear; what distrust for banks. He died April 17, 1980. Mass was at St. Paul's Cathedral and he was buried at Calvary Cemetery. Mary Wingerter was another hard worker. Other than caring for her three children, she worked at Del Monte's and Washington Canners. To earn extra monies, she cleaned house for local dentist, Dr. Beauchene, for many years even after her retirement. She was dedicated and always expressed a strong sense of family, even to thirty-four great-grandchildren. She will be remembered for her purse, equipped with a florid hanky and "lotsa gum". On Christmas Eve, the purse also yielded silver dollars! Mary should have received the purple heart for the fifty-five years of marriage to husband, John. She had seen "the good times and the bad times". Mary's flower gardens were always the best, as colorful as her medicine chest. She spent equal time in both up to her death on December 17,1981. What a generation! From the feudal steppes of Russia, the Wright Brothers Kitty Hawk of 1903; World Wars and Wars; Vatican II; a walk on the moon; from hard labor to the information age, they saw it. [By James R. Milliron, D.C., 1989] -- WINGERTER Moving to Yakima in the mid 30's was John and Mary (Zacher) Wingerter. They were married in North Dakota in 1925, coming to the valley in 1935. Mr. Wingerter was born May 9, 1900 in Odessa, Russia and came to the United States in 1905, settling at Linton, North Dakota. Mrs. Wingerter was born March 12, 1905 at Odessa, R., and lived in South Dakota until moving to Yakima. She worked for Washington Canners and Del Monte Corp for many years and was a member of St. Paul's Cathedral and the Catholic Daughters of America. Mr. Wingerter was a carpenter and a member of the Carpenter's Union Local. They had three children, a son, John Phillip, and two daughters, Mrs. Robert (Kay) Milliron, and Mrs. Lloyd (Barbara) Bechard. Mr. Wingerter was also survived by a sister, Mrs. Rose Volk. Mrs. Wingerter was survived by three sisters, Barbara Bernhardt, Johanna Feist and Theresia Goode. She was preceded in death by a brother and two sisters. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery, Yakima. [YHR] -- WINGERTER After traveling across Europe from the Ukraine and their village of Elsass by train, the Wingerters sailed from Bremen on the ship, S. S. Kaiser Friedrich and arrived in New York 23 November 1898. The group included: Kasimir Wingerter (58) and wife, Katharina (55) Son, Kasimir Wingerter (25) and wife, Magdalena (25) Sons, Martin Wingerter (17) and Joseph Wingerter (15) Daughters, Walpurga Wingerter (19) and Barbara Wingerter (9) Daughter, Magdalena and son-in-law Mathias Heilman Katharina Heilman (4) and Walpurga Heilman (1 1/2) The above information is from immigration records. Another daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband, Balsar Mastel, came to the US a few years later. These families first went to the area of Edmunds and McPherson Counties in South Dakota. In 1899, Kasimir and Magdalena Wingerter had a son, Bert. In 1900, Walpurga (Bertha) Wingerter and Ferdinand Heilman were married and made their home there near Bowdle, in Edmunds County. Gradually, family names were "Americanized" and the spellings were changed. In 1901, the Wingarters came west to Ritzville, Washington. Kasimir and Magdalena had three more children: Joseph (1902), Kasimir (b. Aug 1903, d. Dec 1903), and Magdalena (Lena 1905). They moved to Westport, Washington and lived there a short time, operating a cannery. About 1907, they came to Yakima, where Kasimir, Jr. bought 2 1/2 acres in Germantown on which he built two houses, one for his own family and one for his parents. They farmed and did carpentry work. Martin and Joseph were married in 1909 and 1910. Their wives were from western Washington. Soon after their marriages, they moved to Australia where they arrived in January of 1911 and spent the rest of their lives. Kasimir and Magdalena had three children born in the Germantown area; William (1909), Adam Balthazar (known as Walter, 1912) and Philomena (1915). The family was a Charter member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church. The church was a mission for a few years and was served by Jesuit Fathers from St. Joseph's Church in Yakima. The Wingarter men helped build the first Catholic Church in Toppenish and also worked on the building when it was enlarged. That building is now located across from the present church (which was dedicated in 1949) and is used for parish activities. Kasimir, Jr., died in 1916. In 1921, his widow married Sebastian Zerr of Yakima where they made their home until his death in 1929. Magdalena and her three younger children returned to her home in Germantown where she lived until her death in 1949. Kasimir, Sr. died in 1919 and his wife, Katharina, in 1925. [Information by Thelma Wingardner By Louise Potter] -- WIRACHOWSKY My dad was Lorenz Wirachowsky and he was born in Russia March 12, 1879. My mother, Matilda Still, was also born in Russia. Dad was half Polish and half Prussian-German; Dad's father was a Prussian General. My folks met and were married in Germany and then moved to South Russia. They emigrated in 1907, going from Liverpool to Canada where they had two homesteads. My folk's first child was born in Russia, the second on the ship. The next seven were born in Sask., Canada, then I, the last of ten children, was born at Buena in 1921, the same year my family moved to the United States. Dad was a warehouseman. Dad died July 7, 1932 at Toppenish, he was a member of the Catholic faith. His father's name was Jack Wirachowsky. [by Leo Wirachowsky in interview with Louise Potter] -- WITTENBERGER Conrad, born in Kolb, Russia, on November 7, 1873. He was the son of George Wittenberger and Katherine Rehn. He married Mary Koch, the daughter of Reuben Koch, and they immigrated to the United States in 1912. They lived for a number of years at Scotts Bluff, Nebraska. They came to the Yakima Valley in 1940. Mr. and Mrs. Wittenberger were members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. Conrad died December 3, 1954, he is buried in Reservation Community Memorial Park. A son, Reuben, was born at Scotts Bluff March 29, 1919 and died February 18, 1957, he lived at Toppenish, Wa. Mrs. Wittenberger died January 2, 1961, Merritt Funeral Home was in charge of burial arrangements. [MFH] -- WITTMAN Fred W., born in Russia on September 29, 1869. He was the son of Fred Wittman and Elizabeth Martin, both born in Russia. His wife was Katie. He died February 18, 1936 and is buried in the Tahoma Cemetery. [LMFH] -- WITTMAN John, born in Russia. The Hope Lutheran Church gives the following information: born May 13, 1874, son of John. His wife was Katherine, he had children. His death date is November 4, 1927, he is buried in Tahoma Cemetery, Yakima. -- WOITT George - History of his family written by Martha Woitt Kissler. "George Woitt and Katherine Reiswig were united in marriage in 1903 in Walter, Russia. They had one son who died at two years of age. George was orphaned at an early age. He had two brothers, Jake, the oldest, George, and then John. They were raised by relatives. George had little schooling in the German language and no English. George's job was herding hogs. When George was old enough to serve in the Army, he was drafted for the Japanese and Russian War. The conflict was of short duration and his duty was to polish the officer's shoes and run errands. Katherine had one younger sister and brother. Six weeks prior to immigrating to America in 1907, they had a daughter named Nina Marie. The trip was by steerage and many of the passengers were sick. They both received citizenship papers in their early years. Katie is short for Katherine. When she was signing her papers it was difficult for her to write her full name. She had some schooling in the German language. They settled in Odessa, Washington. His foster father, Wendell Woitt, set up housekeeping for George and his family. George worked for farmers on wheat ranches and also worked building brick chimneys and plastering walls and ceilings. Later, he worked building sidewalks. A second daughter, Martha, was born in 1909 and then two sons, Solly in 1911 and Alfred in 1914. A third daughter, Helen, was born in 1921. In the spring of 1918, the family went to Wapato, Wa., to work one season in the sugar beets for Williams, this was three miles N.E. of Harrah in the Yakima Valley, in the fall they decided to stay and make it their home. George's foster father bought a 10 acre orchard for $9,000 at the corner of Ashue and Jones road from Jones, who was a banker. The land was planted in 3 acres of peaches, 1 acre of pears and the rest was in apples. The two-bedroom house eventually had two rooms added by George. Farming brought in good crops with good prices and the debt was repaid in the first two years. In the 1930s the ranch was sold and they moved into town on West 6th Street, Wapato. The home was close to school, six blocks from town and church. They owned a car, but often walked. They were members of the Lutheran Church until 1926 when they joined the Congregational Church which their friends attended, and they liked their prayer group. George helped build the new church building which is still standing at the corner of East 3rd Street. The Woitts were a happy family. Katie was a diabetic for many years. She died at age 71 in 1956 at the Toppenish hospital. George spent his last few years in a nursing home; he suffered a heart attack at age 88 and died in the St. Elizabeth hospital in Yakima in 1964. Their daughter, Marie Kissler, died in November 1960 and daughter Helen Ashby died August 13, 1975. George was born May 25, 1875 and Katherine on February 16, 1885." -- WOITT Jacob. He was born in Walter, Russia on March 21, 1872, he was the oldest of three boys who were orphaned at an early age. They were raised by Wendell Woitt, their foster father. Jacob married Anna Margaret Schmidt, she was from the village of Frank, which was close by. She was born in the year 1875. Jacob and Anna immigrated to the U.S. in 1901. While enroute and on board ship, their first child was born, Jacob, named after his father. The port of entry to America was New York, their destination was Odessa, Wa. Working and farming was done on the wheat ranches, the lived in Lincoln County as well as Adams County. To them were born six more children before they moved to the Yakima Valley: Henry, February 22, 1904; Pauline, February 1, 1906; Annie, March 17, 1908; Lydia, May 26, 1910, she married William Hert of Wapato, she died November 8, 1929; Edward, born August 24, 1912; and another baby girl who died in infancy in 1916. The year they came to the valley was 1918, settling in the lower valley at Wapato. They worked as farmers. They had another daughter, Esther, born December 9, 1918. They were affiliated with the Lutheran Church, eventually transferring to the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Wapato. Anna was an active participant with the Pilgrim Daughters Society, contributing many beautiful handmade items, knitting and crocheting. At the age of 71 Jacob died on November 18, 1943. Anna lived to be 84 years of age, she died in March of 1959. Their oldest son, Jacob, is also deceased. [by Pauline Woitt Hert] -- WOLFE In 1910, there was a terrible diphtheria epidemic in Odessa, Russia, virtually wiping out entire families. That was the fate of the family of Egnaz (Ignatius) and Rosella (Wentz) Wolfe, my folks. The only ones that survived in the family were my parents and mother's brother, John (Wentz). It took all the children born to my folks in Russia. My mother was sick with it too. My mother's parents were Jacob and Magdaline (Martel) Wentz and they were born in Odessa also. My father's parents were Mathew and Maria (Yessler) Wolfe. My folks came over in 1910, my dad had relatives in Canada and they wanted us to go there, however, we stayed in North Dakota. I was born January 11, 1911 in the Devil's Lake area in North Dakota. I started school in Odessa, Washington. My brother Matt was also born in Odessa as was my sister Magdalin. From there, we went to Outlook and in January 1919, we came to Toppenish. My sister, Clara, was born here April of that year. My sister, Dorothy, was also born here. My dad died quite young, 49, in 1935 of diphtheria, none of the rest of us got it as he was away at the time. Dad worked for the Washington Nursery and the railroad. Mother died January 15, 1945. My folks were members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church and are buried in the Elmwood Cemetery. [Information by Doris (Wolfe) Grubenhoff - CFH - By Louise Potter] -- WUERCH Gottlieb and Bertha immigrated to the U.S. in 1891. They were both born in Russia, Bertha on July 14, 1870. They came to the Yakima Valley in 1914 (this information was taken from the Grace Lutheran Church records). Gottlieb died leaving Bertha with their two sons and one daughter. Her second marriage was to Mr. Lemke. Both the sons are deceased. Emil, born September 2, 1894 in Green Lake County, Wisconsin, while a young man went to watch-makers school. When he moved to Yakima he worked for Jones and Hawkes Jewelers. He died January 15, 1982. His survivors were a sister, Mrs. Harold (Edna) McNiece and a half-brother, Ewald Lemke. A brother, Raymond preceded him in death. Ewald Lemke was born August 20, 1907 in Markeson, Wisconsin, he came to the Yakima Valley in 1913. He married Gladys Plath on August 20, 1929 in Seattle. He began a career in the radio business in 1924. He established the Yakima Wholesale Radio Company. He died October 9, 1989. Bertha passed away on May 23, 1956 after a long illness. Both are interred at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. [GLC/YHR] -- WUEST John, born in Rohrbach, Russia to John Wuest and Barbara Hell on March 9,1885. When he immigrated to the U.S. they settled in North Dakota. He came to the Yakima Valley where he worked as a laborer, he had been married but was divorced. He received his citizenship. At the time he died, November 14, 1954, he lived at Toppenish. His survivors were; Reinhold Wuest of Salem, Or., Marvin of Corvallis, Or., Mrs. Virginia Kuhn of Corvallis, Or., and Mrs. Esther Meyer of Sacramento, Cal, also brothers, Albert Wuest of Yakima, Henry of Billings, Mt., and Emil of Billings. [DFH] -- YASTING Andrew, listed in the 1900 Yakima County Census. Andrew, born in Russia in December 1853. Mary, daughter, born in Russia in February 1884. John, son, born in Russia in September 1885. Lottie, twin to John. -- YOUNG George Young, who was born September 28, 1884 in Russia, died in Toppenish February 15, 1956. He was the son of Hannmichael Young and Eva Lies Patt. He was a member of the Church of God, Seventh Day in Toppenish. Mr. Young was survived by a son, Jake and four daughters; Kathryn (Brooks), Marie (Ross), Betty (Smith), and Betty (Ross). He was a farmer and had lived in the Yakima Valley 18 years. [CFH] -- YOUNG Joseph Young, who was born in Russia, April 12, 1886, died at Toppenish January 14, 1957. He was the son of Sylvester Young. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Mary (Schloss) and a daughter, Virginia (Bennett), also one brother and one sister. He had lived in the Toppenish area since the early 1920s. [CFH] -- YURIAN Katherine Yurian, wife of Andrew Yurian, was born January 7, 1897 in Russia and died January 12, 1951 at Toppenish. She was the daughter of Fred and Grace (Smith) Brauer. She was survived by her husband and three children; Kenneth, James, and Josephine (Hauff). She had lived 21 years in the area and was a member of the German Evangelical Church. [CFH] -- ZACHER Phillip, born in South Russia, in the Ukranian Province, on June 29, 1875. He was the son of John Zacher and Johanna Block. He married Katherine Wilhelm, she was born June 1, 1877 in Russia. They immigrated to the U.S. in 1910 and settled first at Brisband, North Dakota. In 1935 they moved to the Yakima Valley. The first year in the valley they rented a fruit orchard which had cherries and pears. With a good crop in sight, disaster struck, a sterna ruined the entire crop. Phillip sought other means of making a living for his family and worked as a carpenter, staying at that work until retirement. This family was affiliated with the Catholic Church. Six children were born to them in Russia: Barbara, born in 1899, m. John Jochim; John, born in 1902, died in infancy; Johanna, born in 1903, m. John Feist; Mary, born in 1904, m. John Wingerter; Joseph, born in 1907, died in infancy; and Katie, born in 1909, died in 1922. Born to them in North Dakota were: Theresa, born February 28, 1911, she married Otis Goode (they live in Yakima and are enjoying their retirement); Ralph, born March 4, 1913, he died in 1922; and Henry, born in 1916, died in infancy. Phillip received his naturalization in 1915, this included his emigrant family. He died April 27, 1958 and Katherine in August of 1947, both are buried in Calvary Cemetery, Yakima, WA. [Information received from Theresa Goode - By Frieda Brulotte] -- ZELLER Fred Henry, born in 1883 in the Odessa, Russia area. He immigrated to the U.S with his parents in 1892, he was nine years of age. They came to the Yakima Valley in 1920. They lived in the Satus and Wapato area where he farmed for about 50 years. He was married to Sophia, she died in 1963, at age 73 (born in 1890). Fred lived in Yakima and was a member of the Bethel Nazarene Church. His last years were spent in the Parkside Nursing Home in Union Gap. He died July 13, 1970, his survivors were a son, Victor of Pasco, and five daughters: Mrs. Robert Johnson of Seattle; Mrs. Glenn Ranta of Echo, Oregon; Mrs. James Kearby of Pendleton, Oregon; Mrs. Thomas Hilton of Anchorage, Alaska and Mrs. Delbert Kintner of Oak Harbor. A sister, Mrs. Marie Pack of Yakima, 17 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. [Wapato Independent/YHR] -- ZERR Jacob, born in Russia, the family immigrated to Canada and lived there for quite some time. He married Catherine Kiser, daughter of Paul Kiser and Johanna Wieber. Catherine was born November 24, 1859 in Russia. Their children were born during the years they lived in Canada. A son, George, born November 22, 1900 in Quappelle, Sask., Canada. He came to the Yakima Valley in 1919-1920. He worked in the lumber industry. He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He died October 15, 1979, survived by his wife Margaret of Yakima, a son, Dr. George C. Zerr of Kent; three brothers, Phillip, Raymond and Benjamin. He was also survived by three sisters, Frances Desmond, Doris White and Pauline LaFollette. Jacob J., born in Sask. in 1903, came to Yakima in 1913. He was an ironworks welder, worked for Yakima Stoker Co., and in 1948 established Zerr Heating Company. He married Hattie Means, she was born October 29, 1897. Jacob died April 12,1971 and Hattie on August 17, 1981. Phillip, born February 13, 1904 in Sask. Came to the Yakima Valley in 1919. On November 26, 1928, he married Katherine Moser. He was a landscape gardener and a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Phillip died May 21, 1980. His wife, Katherine, daughter of Vincent and Christine Moser, died March 15, 1910. She had moved to Yakima with her parents at age 13, she died August 23, 1984. John Victor, born in Sask., on March 10, 1916. He lived most of his life in the Yakima Valley. He was a WWII veteran. He worked for the Cascade Lumber Company for 37 years. He died in 1985 leaving his wife, Ann, and a son. He was preceded in death by three sisters; Frances Desmond, Doris White and Pauline LaFollette, and three brothers. The date of Mr. Zerr's death is not known but his wife, Catherine, died April 10, 1937. She is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Shaw and Sons officiated. [YHR] -- ZIER Christ, born in Dietel, Russia on March 5, 1881. His parents were John Zier and M. Berat (Mary Baird). Christ married Elizabeth Lockman, daughter of Jacob Lockman, she was born in Russia May 17, 1885. From records of their children, they had lived in Nebraska prior to coming to the Yakima Valley. They were farmers and lived in the Wapato and Toppenish area. Born to them were: Mildred; Elizabeth (Lizzie), born May 4, 1911, died November 26, 1935; George, born April 4, 1913 at Lincoln, Nebraska, died July 18, 1960; Jake, born in 1915, died April 29, 1945; Solomon, born at Wapato in 1927, died April 28, 1973. He had attended school at Wapato and Ellensburg, serving in the U.S. Army in WWII. Other children of whom we have no information are Olga, David, Helen and Heinrich. Christ died at the age of 52, July 1, 1933. His wife, Elizabeth, died November 25, 1935. Both are buried in Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima. [MFH] -- ZIER Fred, born in Dietel, Russia on October 23, 1880. He was the son of John Zier and Mary Baird (Berat). Fred's wife, Mabel, was born in Russia on June 8, 1880, they were married in Russia. Fred came to the U.S. before his family, in about 1905. Mabel stayed behind with the children, George and Elizabeth, she was expecting another child, that child being Katherine. In 1907 she and the children came to the U.S., entering through the port of Philadelphia, Penn. They first settled at Scottsbluff, Nebraska, then moved to Colorado. From there they moved to Bridger and then to Billings, Montana. In 1922 they came to the Yakima Valley where they were farm workers. They were members of Hope Lutheran Church in Wapato. Some years later they moved to the Wide Hollow area, which is located west of Yakima, where they bought land. Several of the Zier families were involved. A road in the area is the Zier Road, named for the family. In time they left the Lutheran Church and joined the Pentecostal Church. The family of Fred and Mabel were as follows: George, born in Russia in 1902, married Millie K. Erbes, they had two sons and four daughters, he died June 10, 1972: Elizabeth, born in Russia in 1904, she married Walter Hauff on May 2, 1925, she died February 18, 1977. Katherine, born in 1905, married Jake Ruts in Hope Lutheran Church in Wapato. Katherine died in 1965. Jake's second wife was Clara Hert, Jake died in 1967. Henry, born June 20, 1907 at Billings married Ruth, he died May 23, 1972. David, born May 24, 1910 at Billings, Montana, married Emma Miller, daughter of Jacob and Mary Elizaberth Steber. "Dave" died February 6, 1980. Amelia (Millie), born October 19, 1909, married Steve Weigel. Lydia married Paul Kern of Harrah, Washington. Esther married Elmo Davis. Marion married Rick Burnett. Freddie and Pete died during the influenza epidemic in 1919, they were living in Montana at the time. Fred had two sisters, Katie Busch and Mabel Steinmetz. He died April 28, 1962 at age 82. His wife, Mabel, died December 1937. Katie and Mabel preceded Fred in death. [Information from Emma (Mrs. Dave Zier)- By Frieda Brulotte] -- ZIER George, born in Dietal, Russia in 1875. He was the son of John Zier and M. Berat. He was the brother of Fred and Christ Zier. As near as can be determined, they immigrated to the U.S. in 1904. Information on George is sketchy. He lived in the Yakima Valley and died here on April 4, 1939. His brother Fred and friend, Jake Rutz, took care of the burial arrangements thru Merritt Funeral Home in Wapato. [MFH] -- ZIMMER Mr. Conrad Zimmer was born November 22, 1909 at Kafka, Russia. He was the son of Henry and Marie Catherine (Jokafart) Zimmer. He, with his family, immigrated to Canada in 1913, coming to the Toppenish area in 1924. He was a Master Mechanic 29 years for the U & I Sugar Company. He was a member of the American Federation of Grain Millers. Mr. Zimmer died at Vancouver, November 23, 1973. He was survived by two sons; Edward and Jack Zimmer and two brothers; Walt and Fred Zimmer. Katherina Zimmer, mother of Conrad Zimmer, was born in Russia, January 27, 1883. She died August 9, 1956 at Toppenish. She was survived by four sons, Walter, Conrad, Fred and Jake and also a sister, Catherine Kowatch, who lived at Stockton, California. [CFH/YHR] -- ZIMMERMAN Joseph John, born May 29, 1898 at Odessa, Russia. He came to the U.S. with his parents in 1910 at the age of 12. They settled in Kansas before moving to the Yakima Valley in 1912. Joseph married Mary A. Moore on January 23, 1923 in Yakima. He worked as chief maintenance engineer at St. Elizabeth Hospital for 28 years, later becoming a stational engineer at the Yakima Firing Center for 14 years. He retired in 1964. Mr. Zimmerman died August 14, 1977; his survivors were his wife, Mary, three sons; James of Los Angeles, California, Joseph and John of Yakima, and five daughters; Marianne Heintz of Selah, Teresa Paulson of Yakima, Florence Shawn of Long Beach, Wa., Catherine McIntyre of Sacramento, Cal, and Marguerite Masterman of Selah. They were members of St. Paul's Cathedral. He was also survived by two sisters; Mrs. Frank (Frances) Pizzolo of Auburn, Wa. and Mrs. Sidney (Virginia) Hurst of Yakima, also two brothers, Peter and Jacob Zimmerman. [YHR] -- ZINKLE Herman was born in Deibbernone, Germany on November 29, 1887, son of Frederich and Wilhelmina Zinkle. He was raised and educated in Germany, he immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 17 to work on a farm in South Dakota. He married Louise Berg in 1908 in South Dakota. Louise was born April 9, 1888 in Russia, she came to the U.S. in 1904 to South Dakota. After their marriage they moved to Ashley, North Dakota. He was a master electrician for 22 years. They moved to Yakima in 1945. He worked as a custodian for Del Monte Cannery until retiring in 1960. After his retirement he owned and operated a saw filing and lawn mower repair shop. They were members of Grace Lutheran Church. Louise preceded him in death, he lived to the age of 94 years. He died November 6, 1972. He left a son, Eugene Zinkle, and two daughters, Mrs. Vernon (Emma) Abrahamson of Gervais, Oregon and Mrs. Sidney (Erna) Harrison of Portland, Oregon. Keith and Keith Funeral Home in charge of burial arrangements. They are interred in West Hills Memorial Park. [YHR]