The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 168
A portrait of Henry Ditter appears in this publication.

PHIL A. DITTER.

Phil A. Ditter has throughout his entire business career, which began when he
was but thirteen years of age, been identified with mercantile interests and is
today at the head of the oldest retail business of Yakima. The story of his
thrift and enterprise is an inspiring one and should serve to encourage others.
He was born in Shakopee, Minnesota, May 11, 1868, a son of Henry and Katherine
(Mechtel) Ditter, who were pioneer residents of Yakima, where they arrived on
the 23d of July, 1884. The father was a native of Baden, Germany, but was a lad
of only fifteen years when he came to America, making his way at once to Fond du
Lac, Wisconsin, where he was reared to manhood. After attaining his majority he
removed to Minnesota and was there united in marriage, in 1867, to Miss
Katherine Mechtel. Before North Yakima had been founded Mr. Ditter removed to
the west, traveling by stage from The Dalles to Yakima City and later removing
to North Yakima when the latter place was founded. There he remained to the time
of his death and was ever one of its most loyal and progressive citizens. He was
engaged in merchandising from an early age, although about sixteen years before
his demise he turned his interests over to his sons and retired from active
business. Subsequent to his arrival in the northwest he joined the firm of
Hoscheid & Bartholet, proprietors of a general store in Yakima city. It was the
first dry goods establishment of Yakima and had been founded several years
before by Peter T. Gervais. After a year's connection with the business Mr.
Ditter purchased the interests of his first partners and remained for two and a
half years at Yakima City. He removed the business to North Yakima in the fall
of 1888 and opened a store in the west half of the First National Bank building,
for which he paid a rental of fifty dollars per month. He began dealing in dry
goods, men's furnishings and shoes, in a building twenty-five by eighty-two
feet. He remained in active connection with the business until January, 1893,
and then turned it over to his two sons, Phil A. and Joseph E. Retiring from
active life, he then spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of a well earned
rest until called to his final home on the 29th of November, 1908. He had for
about three years survived his first wife, who died in 1905. He was highly
esteemed as a most enterprising and progressive citizen as well as a merchant
and was an active democrat but did not seek or desire office. His religious
faith was that of the Catholic church and he was an active member and
communicant of St. Joseph's church and also an interested member of the Knights
of Columbus. His family numbered three children, the two brothers previously
mentioned and a sister, Anna, who became the wife of Charles R. Donovan, cashier
of the First National Bank. He belonged also to the Catholic Knights of
Wisconsin and to St. Joseph's Central Verein. After losing his first wife he was
married at Port Townsend to Miss Bessie March, who survives him. Those who knew
him entertained for him the warmest regard for he had proven himself a man of
genuine worth in business, in citizenship and in the relations of private life.

Phil A. Ditter acquired his education in public schools and also in a Sisters'
school of Minnesota. He started work when a boy of thirteen years in his
father's store and has been identified with mercantile interests since that
time. Prior to 1893 the firm of which he is now a member conducted business
under the name of Henry Ditter but since that date has been carried on under the
style of Ditter Brothers. In 1901 they erected their new store building between
Second and Third streets, on East Yakima avenue. It is a two-story and basement
structure fifty by one hundred and thirty feet and they also own a fifty-foot
frontage lot east of the store and expect to enlarge their building after the
war. They now carry an extensive line of dry goods and ladies' ready-to-wear
clothing and their stock includes all that the latest market affords. Theirs is
the oldest retail business in Yakima, having been in existence for a quarter of
a century. Ditter Brothers employ the most progressive methods in the conduct
and management of their business and have thus followed in the footsteps of
their father, who was so long an honored and respected merchant of the city.

Phil A. Ditter was married on the 13th of June, 1894, to Miss Mary A. Duffey, of
Minnesota, and their children are: Henry J., twenty-one years of age, residing
in Seattle; Amor P., who is a student in Gonzaga University of Spokane; and
Bernadine A., at home. Two other children died in infancy.

Mr. Ditter has membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and, like
his father, is identified with the Knights of Columbus, having held all of the
chairs in the local organization. He has likewise filled all of the offices in
the Catholic Order of Foresters and again like his father is a communicant of
St. Joseph's Catholic church. He has been active in associated charity work and
was one of the organizers of the Associated Charities of Yakima, and has served
as president for five years. In politics he is an independent republican and he
belongs to the Commercial Club, in which he has served on the governing board.
He is actuated in all that he does by a spirit of enterprise and progress that
falters not in the face of obstacles and difficulties but is constantly seeking
out new, improved and progressive methods whereby he may reach the desired
goal. His establishment is an important factor in the commercial circles of
Yakima, where the name of Ditter has long been an honored one.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.