The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 948 A portrait of C. E. Meystre appears in this publication. C. E. MEYSTRE. Many are the sturdy and valuable citizens who have come from Switzerland to this country, among them being C. E. Meystre, now a prosperous agriculturist in the Naches district. He was born in the land of the Alps, near the French border, Friday, November 13, 1863, a son of John Frederick and Jeannette (Vez) Meystre, both of whom are now deceased. The father spent his entire life in Switzerland and there followed the trade of shoemaking. In 1882, at the age of nineteen, C. E. Meystre came to the United States, having been left an orphan at seven years. He heard many favorable reports regarding the opportunities presented for advancement in this country. He located at first in St. Paul, Minnesota, but remained there only a month, at the end of which time he made his way to Wabasha county, that state, and later went to Marshall county, Minnesota, spending four years in Argyle, where he worked for wages until 1888, when he came to Yakima county, Washington. In 1890 Mr. Meystre was united in marriage to Hilda Engdahl, a native of Sweden and a daughter of A. C. Engdahl, who in 1886 brought his family to Yakima county. Mrs. Meystre was county superintendent of schools at the time Washington was admitted to statehood and is a graduate of the State Normal School of Minnesota, receiving the second life diploma to teach school in Yakima county. She had acquired title to the land on the upper Naches where Mr. and Mrs. Meystre now live and Mr. Meystre now gives his attention to the further cultivation of this property. The farm comprises over two hundred acres, of which eighty are in a high state of cultivation, while three are devoted to orchard. Mr. Meystre follows the most progressive and up-to-date methods in the cultivation of his land and great success has attended his labors, so that he is now numbered among the prosperous agriculturists of his neighborhood. He has erected suitable buildings and a fine home and everything about the place bespeaks the progressive methods of the owner. Mr. and Mrs. Meystre have a family of ten children: Helen J., at home; Laura A., who is the widow of Thomas Betiero and resides at home; Constance E., also at home; Elvie, the wife of Frank Rousseau, of Yakima; Emile F., who volunteered for service and is now with the United States army in France, having been severely wounded on the 19th of July, 1918, and reported dead about that time; Ivan E., who is now in his second year in the State University at Pullman; Lillian C., attending Wapato high school: and Rose, Josephine and Hilda, all at home. Mr. and Mrs. Meystre are widely and favorably known in their neighborhood, to the development of which they have contributed in such marked measure in their respective spheres of life. Not only have both taken a prominent part in agricultural development but Mrs. Meystre in particular has done much toward furthering educational advancement. Mr. Meystre is a prominent member of the Grange, being master of Wapato Grange, and his wife has been secretary of the organization for the past six years. In his political affiliations he is a democrat and while he is not a politician in the ordinary sense of the word he has always been deeply interested in any movement pertaining to the general welfare and for many years has served as school director of his district. Fraternally he is connected with Lodge No. 150, A. F. & A. M., of Minnesota, the honorable principles of brotherhood underlying this organization guiding him in his conduct toward his fellowmen. There is great credit due Mr. Meystre for what he has achieved, as he has attained a position of substantial prosperity entirely unaided and is therefore entitled to the proud American title of a self-made man. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.