The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 349

CARL AUGUST SANDER.

In the passing of Carl August Sander in February, 1910, the Yakima valley lost
one of its most honored pioneers. Not only along agricultural lines but also in
the line of flour milling Mr. Sander was connected with the early history of
this section and other sections of the west and his activities therefore
contributed in large measure toward the upbuilding of the country on the
Pacific slope. During a long life, covering practically eighty-four years, Mr.
Sander ever exerted his ability to good purpose and as the years passed became
one of the prosperous residents of Kittitas county, owning at the time of his
death about fourteen hundred acres near Ellensburg. His widow, Mrs. Olive
Sander, is a native of Salem, Oregon, and therefore a true daughter of the west,
her parents having settled in that state in the early '50s, being among those
hardy pioneers who at that time made the hazardous and danger-fraught overland
trip.

A native of Germany, Carl A. Sander was born in Berlin, March 12, 1826, and
there he received his education, fitting himself for life's arduous duties. The
year 1848, which brought to Germany and other countries great political
upheavals leading to a number of revolutions which were undertaken in order to
gain for the people freedom from autocratic rule and secure for them
parliamentary representation, also affected the fate of Mr. Sander, who as the
success of the revolution was largely unsatisfactory, decided to seek that land
of freedom of which he had heard so much America. He was therefore numbered
among the famous '48ers, many of whom achieved such notable success along
various lines under the Stars and Stripes. At that time he was twenty-two years
of age, and, filled with high ideals, enjoying good health and willing to work,
he hopefully set sail for the United States and it is gratifying to record that
his hopes were fulfilled and that his labors resulted in a substantial degree
of financial independence. The first two years in this country he spent in
Florida, whence he removed to California, in which state he resided for an equal
period. The spirit to seek out new fields, however, was still with him and
before settling clown he decided to investigate and visit other sections of the
continent, at that time going up to Canada and from there to Alaska, where for
one year he wooed the fickle goddess of fortune in the pursuit of mining. From
the north he returned to Vancouver and thence removed to The Dalles, Oregon,
where for two or three years he was engaged in operating an old flour mill. It
was in 1865 that he came to the Yakima valley, where he continued operations as
a miller, running the old Barker mill near Yakima City, of which place he was
accounted one of the earliest settlers. He thus acquired the means with which to
become an independent farmer and about 1871 he took up a homestead in the
Kittitas valley and also a preemption claim. He did not at once begin the
cultivation of his land but located upon it about ten years later, in April,
1881, the year and month of his marriage. The land adjoins Ellensburg and the
advantages of the town are therefore within his reach. Taking up one of the very
first ranches in the valley, Mr. Sander devoted the remainder of his life to
bringing it under cultivation and placing thereon modern improvements. He always
followed the latest methods of farming in the management of his property and as
the years passed he prospered, becoming one of the foremost agriculturists of
his section. In 1882 he also established a flour mill there and this he operated
quite successfully until 1891, when it was destroyed by fire. As his financial
resources increased he added to his holdings until he became the owner of a
fourteen-hundred acre ranch, which at the time of his death was one of the
finest in the state. Upon the place stands the beautiful farm home, the original
dwelling having been built in 1886, but it has since been rebuilt, and
everything about the property indicates the foresight and perseverance of its
owner, who here found those opportunities which many years before he had hoped
to enjoy when he took fate in his own hands and carne to this country as a young
man of twenty-two.

On April 6, 1881, Mr. Sander was united in marriage to Miss Olive Cleman, a
native of Salem, Oregon, and a daughter of Charles August and Rebecca (Griffith)
Clemen, both of whom removed from Missouri to Oregon in the early '50s, making
their way by the overland trail and becoming pioneers of that state. To this
union were born four children: Frederick, a successful cattleman at Lowgap,
Washington, is married and has one child; Anna married Warren Hentin of Seattle;
Clara Edith is the wife of Dr. R. R. Pincard, by whom she has two children;
Mabel is the wife of R. L. Ratter, Jr., by whom she has two children.

Mr. Sander passed away February 16, 1910, his demise at the venerable age of
eighty-four years occasioning deep regret among his many friends in the Yakima
valley. The large farm property is now ably managed by his widow, who has proven
herself thoroughly conversant with farming methods and is generally concealed to
be one of the best business women of her section. Her parents were also among
the early pioneers of Yakima county, whither they came in 1864. They homesteaded
in the fall of that year on the Wenas, where David Longmire now lives.
Subsequently they removed into the Kittitas valley about 1878 and there the
father acquired land upon which he and his family continued to make their home,
and there both he and his wife passed away. He not only followed general farming
but also gave a great deal of attention to stock raising. He and his wife were
among those who early planted the seeds of civilization in a wilderness which
has since become one of the most prosperous sections of the state.

In his religious affiliations Mr. Sander was a Lutheran, to which denomination
he was very devoted. His political persuasion was that of the republican party,
whose candidates he ever supported and in the principles of which he thoroughly
believed. Although always in accord with involvements undertaken for the
upbuilding of his section, he never entered politics in order to obtain public
office for himself, preferring to do his duty as an American citizen in a
private capacity. Through his indefatigable energy he succeeded in building up a
farm property which is today one of the "show- places" of Washington and without
challenge admitted to be the finest in Kittitas county. The grounds surrounding
the handsome residence are beautified, while the barns and outbuildings as well
as all the farm machinery are modern and up-to-date, thus insuring the best
possible results. Mrs. Sander as owner and manager of this large estate, stands
high in the estimation of her fellow citizens, who admire her as a woman of more
than ordinary ability in carrying forward the work which for so many years was
so successfully pursued by her late husband. While Mr. Sander's death occurred
eight years ago, his memory is still revered by all those to whom he was friend
and who esteemed him as an upright, straightforward and loyal American who was
ever ready to lend a helping hand to those who had to overcome hardships and
difficulties. Many times he succeeded in instilling new hope into the
discouraged and also helped them with financial aid. He was a keen observer of
business conditions and was therefore enabled to dispose of his crops to the
best advantage. To his family he was a loving husband and father, ever ready to
make the greatest sacrifices in order to surround them with care and comfort.

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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.