The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 659 MERRITT MONROE DAMMAN. In the death of Merritt Monroe Damman, who passed away April 19, 1915, Ellensburg, and Kittitas county lost a public-spirited citizen who was highly esteemed and respected by all who knew him. He was born in Stoughton, Wisconsin, February 27, 1851, a son of Jeremiah Douglas and Mary J. (Cushing) Damman, natives of Maine, who migrated to Wisconsin as pioneers of that state and later crossed the plains to Utah in 1869. The following year they came to the Kittitas valley and there the father operated one of the first sawmills, also taking up a homestead claim, to the cultivation of which he devoted his remaining days, passing away February 27, 1898. His wife had preceded him many years, her death occurring January 4, 1865. Merritt M. Damman passed his boyhood days under the parental roof and attended the schools in the neighborhood of his father's farms in Wisconsin and in Utah. The year 1872 marked his arrival in the Kittitas valley, whither he came from Ogden, Utah, the latter city having been his home for several years. He soon turned his attention to farming and in 1885 took up a homestead two and a half miles south of Ellensburg, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of land, of which he later sold eighty acres. To the cultivation and improvement of this property he devoted his life, making it one of the valuable farms of the neighborhood, and here he followed agricultural pursuits with growing success, always using modern and up-to-date methods, making many improvements and installing modern equipment. As the years passed his industry, tenacity and straightforwardness combined in bringing to him success. On the 28th of March, 1883, Mr. Damman was united in marriage to Miss Florence Agnes Stickney, a native of Horicon, New York, and a daughter of Henry J. and Fannie Jane (Bunker) Stickney. While residing in the east Mrs. Damman was a successful teacher but in 1884 she crossed the continent, becoming a resident of Yakima county, where she continued in her chosen profession in old Yakima City. She was there when the railroad first reached the town but later she moved to the Kittitas valley, where she also witnessed the first coming in of the railroad. When on a visit from here to Wisconsin she made the journey on the first passenger train out of Ellensburg with her three-months-old son, Harold, who was the first baby to ride out of this city on a train. Mrs. Damman's parents came to Ellensburg in 1887 and there they lived until their deaths, the father passing away April 15, 1901, and the mother, February 4, 1909. To Mr. and Mrs. Damman were born the following children: Harold, who is an efficiency engineer and resides at Bremerton, married Ruth Fulmer, of Port Angeles. Washington, by whom he has a son; Fannie M. married Benjamin Cleveland, of Summit, Idaho, and they have three children, two daughters and a son; Raymond Merritt is also married and resides in Seattle, Washington. The fourth member of the family, Dorothy Agnes, died at the age of eight years. Merritt M. Damman attended the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his widow and family belongs. Fraternally he was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his political persuasion was that of the democratic party. Although not active in public life he was ever ready to give his support to worthy movements undertaken on behalf of the public and his name was connected with various enterprises which have proven of benefit to the inhabitants of Kittitas county. All who knew him, and he had many friends, had the highest regard for him and esteemed him as a straightforward, honorable man whose word was as good as his bond. His death was a great blow to his family, who lost in him a beloved husband and father, who had ever at heart the welfare of those dear to him. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.