The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 1060 J. H. CARSTENS. A native of Illinois, J. H. Carstens has for about sixteen years been connected with the development of Yakima, where he has not only been engaged in the building and construction business but has also engineered important real estate deals, contributing by his activities toward the growth of his city, at the same time gaining a comfortable competence for himself. Mr. Carstens passed his boyhood days in Nashville, Illinois, where he received a public school education. As a young man he became connected with the building and construction business and on August 1, 1901, came to Yakima and, acquiring land here, built thereon houses which he sold at a gratifying profit. He quickly demonstrated his business ability and also his honesty and reliability, thereby winning the trust and confidence of the public. He deals in real estate and is recognized among the few who have a true knowledge of local conditions. It is therefore but natural that his business affairs have prospered and that he has been quite successful along the line in which he first embarked. He largely gives his attention to developing his own town properties but is also interested in farm lands, particularly in the establishment of fruit ranches. On December 24, 1896, Mr. Carstens was united in marriage to Miss Dora R. Rhine, of Nashville, Illinois, and to them have been born two children, Halsey R. and Alma. Mr. Carstens is prominent in the Masonic order, being a member of Yakima Lodge No. 24, F. & A. M.; Yakima Chapter No. 21, R. A. M.; Yakima Council No. 12. R. & S. M.; and Yakima Commandery, K. T. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. In business circles he stands high as a thoroughly reliable and trustworthy builder and real estate dealer and upon these qualifications have largely been built his success. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.