The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 151 CHESTER C. CHURCHILL. Chester C. Churchill, president of the Ellensburg Telephone Company, with fourteen hundred subscribers over the Kittitas valley, was born in Harrisburg, Oregon, July 18, 1871, a son of George Henry and Sarah C. (Reed) Churchill, who were natives of Illinois and of Indiana respectively. Coming to the west in early life, however, they were married in Oregon. The father was a son of Willoughby Churchill, who brought his family to the northwest in 1851, crossing the country by wagon and ox team to Oregon. His wife died at The Dalles, Oregon, ere they reached their destination. Mr. Churchill took up government land and began the development of a farm, whereon he continued to reside until his death. His son, George Henry Churchill, passed away in eastern Oregon in 1885. He had followed stock raising in that section of the state for a number of years and was a representative business man of the locality. His wife was a daughter of Eli A. Reed, who brought his family across the plains to Oregon about 1855 and in later life removed to Ellensburg, where his death occurred. Chester C. Churchill in young manhood became actively identified with the live stock business. In 1887 his mother brought the family to the Kittitas valley and they became identified with the live stock industry in this region. Chester C. Churchill afterward obtained a farm of his own and continued the possessor thereof until 1916, when he sold the property. He is still, however, engaged in buying and selling stock and has long been recognized as one of the prominent live stock dealers of this section of the state. In 1908, however, he was associated with John N. Faust in the purchase of the plant of the Pacific Telephone Company at Ellensburg and reorganized the business under the name of the Ellensburg Telephone Company. At the time of the purchase there were only five hundred subscribers but today there are more than fourteen hundred, located throughout the Kittitas valley. The present officers of the company are: C. C. Churchill, president and manager; and Mr. Faust, secretary and treasurer. They have rebuilt the entire system, making it thoroughly modern in every respect, and they give excellent service to their patrons. In 1896 Mr. Churchill was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Hauser, a daughter of Tillman Hauser, one of the early pioneers of Washington. Their children are Eunice, Doris, Lois and George, all at home. Mr. Churchill is a prominent Mason, belonging to Ellensburg Lodge No. 39, A. F. & A. M., also to the Royal Arch Chapter and to Temple Commandery No. 5, K. T., of which he is now the eminent commander. He is also identified with the Mystic Shrine and is a most loyal follower of the craft, believing firmly in its teachings. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is one of the active workers in its local ranks, his opinions carrying weight in its councils. His business affairs have been wisely and carefully managed and as president of the Ellensburg Telephone Company he has made for himself a creditable place in connection with one of the public utilities, the value of which is most widely recognized. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.