Hull, Lindley M., compiler and editor.  "A History of Central Washington,
Including the Famous Wenatchee, Entiat, Chelan and the Columbia Valleys."
Spokane: Press of Shaw & Borden Co., 1929.  p. 35.

Z. A. LANHAM

     Z. A. Lanham who first set foot on Wenatchee soil in 1883, is a native of
West Virginia. His ancestry reaches back many generations in the old state of
Virginia. At an early age Mr. Lanham caught the so-called western fever, and we
find him in Wyoming Territory in 1877, where he lived about one year, and then
went to Leadville, Colorado. He spent four years in this state, giving his
attention to mining and prospecting, keeping in the back of his mind the
ultimate location for desirable ranch property. On leaving Colorado, he moved
through Arizona, New Mexico, and California, spending about six months in the
last named state, thence going north to the Puget Sound country. While in this
country he fell in with Jacob Powell, mentioned elsewhere. Since both these men
wanted to see the Wenatchee country, they secured saddle horses, and started for
Ellensburg via Stampede Pass, and from that point by Nanum trail to Wenatchee.
They made a trip up the Wenatchee Valley, as well as to other sections of what
is now Chelan county. Mr. Lanham finally located four forties, one forty of
which faces Okanogan Avenue close to the foothills. Mr. Lanham began
improvements at a time when white families numbered less than five; but his
operations were on a scale that denoted faith in the country. He helped to
construct the Settlers Ditch. He very soon planted an orchard of several acres,
freighting his trees from The Dalles, Oregon. About eighty acres were enclosed
by a good fence, the material for which was obtained from the upper Squilchuck
country. The supply of water in the Settlers Ditch proving inadequate, he
purchased a quarter section of land with good water right, situated on Wheeler
Hill, and diverted the water to his place on Okanogan Avenue with satisfactory
results, for from this time forward, his progress was more gratifying. He
followed dairying on a small scale with good results. The story of Mr. Lanham's
part in the construction of the Farmers Telephone Company is given elsewhere.
     Mrs. Lanham, who died in June, 1921, was also a native of Virginia. She
came of pioneer stock and of a family noted for high educational standards. Her
father, H. M. Peterson, who removed to Sullivan County, Missouri, when Mrs.
Lanham was a small child, was known as the leading educator of that section. She
came to Ellensburg, Washington, to visit the family of her uncle, W. H.
Peterson, well known to the residents of the Wenatchee country. She was induced
to remain in the country and teach school; and liking the work and the country
she readily became a resident of Ellensburg in 1886 she was elected to the
office of County Superintendent of Schools of Kittitas County.
     In February, 1890, she and Mr. Lanham were married and immediately took up
their residence on the homestead in the Wenatchee country. This same homestead
ranch now boasts of twenty fine orchard homes, which itself is evidence of the
great development that has taken place since pioneer times. About the year of
1893, Mr. Lanham sold the forty acres with the homestead improvements, and moved
to the forty acres fronting on Okanogan Avenue. With the rapid subdivision of
their ranch property they abandoned the dairy business which they had conducted
several years and confined their efforts to fruit raising, having considerable
acreage in apple orchard. By 1906 they had built a handsome and commodious
residence, on ample grounds and in the midst of magnificent shade trees. Ten
acres are now left of the homestead. In 1917 Mrs. Lanham was appointed historian
for the Chelan County Historical Association but failing health compelled the
abandonment of this undertaking. Since the death of Mrs. Lanham, Mr. Lanham
spends a good deal of his time in California and the Lake Chelan country, though
maintaining his home near Wenatchee.

     
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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in February 2012 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.