The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 22 A portrait of David Longmire appears in this publication. DAVID LONGMIRE. Among the earliest and most honored pioneers of the Yakima valley is David Longmire, who during his long connection with' agricultural interests here has greatly contributed toward the development and upbuilding of the district and whose career has indeed been an unusual one, for it reaches back to the days of the Indians, and he experienced all of those hardships which were connected with the early days of frontier life. For nearly fifty years he has been a resident of Yakima county and is therefore thoroughly familiar with the history -of the valley from its primitive condition to its present-day progress. A native of Fountain county, Indiana, Mr. Longmire was born May 8, 1844, a son of James and Susan (Neisley) Longmire. The father, a native of Indiana, was born March 17, 1820, a son of George Longmire, who was a native of Georgia. The latter was one of the early pioneers of Indiana and participated in the War of 1812, taking part in that conflict under General Harrison. Later the family removed to Illinois, where the grandfather died on the 6th of January, 1868. Throughout his life he had followed the occupation of farming. James Longmire largely spent his boyhood in Indiana, but on the 6th of March, 1853, decided to take his chances in the newer country of the west and by the water route proceeded to St. Joseph, Missouri. There he bought ox teams and by that mode of travel came to Washington. September 20, 1853. marked the date of his arrival at Wenas creek, in the Yakima valley. Mr. Longmire of this review, who was then a boy of nine years, accompanied his parents on this hazardous trip and he still remembers the time when he went through Omaha, or rather passed the site upon which now stands Omaha before a house was built thereon. The Missouri river was crossed near Council Bluffs on a steamboat which was run by a half-breed Indian called Sar Pee. On the Wenas they made their camp and the Longmire train was the first to camp in this valley and theirs were the first wagons ever to come into Benton, or what is now Yakima county, which was then not organized. Breaking camp, they went on to the Puget Sound, arriving there on the 10th of October, 1853. Theirs was the first wagon train to cross the Cascades and also the first to cross the Columbia river at another place than The Dalles, which was the regular crossing. From the Wenas they went up the Naches and over the Cascades and as there was no road the journey was fraught with hardships and difficulties, yet they succeeded in making it in less than a month. Subsequently the father engaged in the cattle business at Yelm Prairie, in Thurston county. However, his business pursuits were often interrupted by calls to arms on account of Indian uprisings and he participated in the Indian wars of 1855 and 1856. Few were the settlers in that district but the Longmires did not lose hope but on the contrary vigorously took up the work of colonization and built a home. The father, a man of more than ordinary intelligence and purpose, readily participated in public affairs and represented Thurston county in the territorial legislature in 1857 and later in 1865 he drew up the bill for the organization of Yakima county, although it was presented for passage by the representative from Klickitat county. As his prosperity increased James Longmire acquired much land in Yakima county on the Wenas, thus becoming a prosperous and substantial citizen, and it was he who located the famous Longmire Springs at Paradise valley, in the neighborhood of Mount Rainier. In fact he and "Uncle Billy" Packwood were early explorers of the Mount Rainier country. In 1883 the father started a hostelry at Longmire Springs, which then was the farthest point to the northwest which could be reached by an established trail. August 16, 1883, was a remarkable day in his career, for it was on that date that James Longmire made the ascent and reached the top of Mount Rainier. It was upon this trip that they found the well-known springs and shortly thereafter they started to build a two-log house there, which was completed in the fall. The proprietary rights to the springs are still vested in the family and these springs are now known all over the world, a fine hotel having been erected there. As above indicated, the father was very active in public affairs and through his incessant and energetic labor and prophetic vision foresaw and anticipated many- things which he tried to turn into realities to the profit of a later generation. For many terms he sat in the territorial legislature, thus devoting time and effort to the general cause of civilization. He was a democrat in his political affiliations and loyally upheld the principles of that party. His death occurred September 12, 1897, and in him the state of Washington lost one of its foremost citizens, who blazed the trail for those who came after him and helped to plant the seeds of civilization under conditions which would have tried the most resolute man. However, Mr. Longmire steeled himself against vicissitudes, and having complete faith 'in the future of the commonwealth, went ahead with his projects unerringly and unceasingly until success crowned his labors. The mother of our subject had passed away four days before the western trip was undertaken, but in 1848 the father had married Virindia Taylor, of Indiana, who has also since passed away. She was a daughter of Jacob and Nancy Taylor. In the father's family were eleven children, of whom David Longmire of this review was the second in order of birth, The eldest in the family was Flcaine Longmire, who for many years successfully engaged in ranching at Longmire Springs and passed away June 21, 1915. The third in order of birth was Tillatha, who married Robert Kandle, now living retired in Yakima, Washington. John A. Longmire is a rancher of Thurston county, this state. Laura Ann married Charles Longmire. of Yakima. Melissa was the wife of L. N. Rice and they resided on the old homestead in Thurston county. She is now deceased. Martha married Joseph Conine, a resident of Thurston county, who about ten years ago was a member of the legislature. Mrs. Conine has passed away. Robert is sheriff of Pierce county, Washington. Frank, the next in order of birth, is deputy sheriff of the same county. George is engaged in ranching in the Wenas valley in Yakima county. The eleventh of the family, James William, died at the age of fourteen years. David Longmire spent his early boyhood days under the parental roof in Indiana and in that state he began his education by attending school in a log schoolhouse. He was nine years of age when removal was made to this state and here he continued his education in Olympia, attending school there from 1855 until 1857. while his father was a member of the territorial legislature. In 1858 he went to school at Chambers Prairie, but in 1859 Mr. Longmire, Sr., succeeded in having a lob- schoolhouse established near his ranch and David Longmire completed his education there. Upon laying aside his textbooks he continued along agricultural lines with his father in Thurston county but in 1871 removed to Yakima county, where he preempted land on the Wenas. It was during these days that the. Indians were yet very troublesome and often attacked the white men, looking upon them as intruders. Many are the experiences which Mr. Longmire is able to recount relative to this period and in this connection it may be mentioned that he was in that party which went forth to capture and punish those Indians who had so treacherously murdered the Perkins family. Of this record he may well be proud, as he assisted in bringing to justice some of the most desperate and degenerate characters among the red men and thereby aided in teaching a lesson which did much toward making conditions less dangerous for the white settlers. Later Mr. Longmire took up a homestead and it is upon this property that he now resides. Forceful and resourceful, he has ever followed progressive methods and has made his farm one of the most valuable in the neighborhood, erecting suitable and commodious barns, building a fine residence and instituting other facilities and equipment which denote twentieth century development in agricultural lines. As his income increased he acquired more land until he now owns four hundred and eighty acres of irrigated land as well as several thousand acres of range land. In later years, however, he has given much of this property to his children, in fact he has built seven fine farm homes for them and his family still lives near the old home place. It was in 1883 that Mr. Longmire built a fine residence on the Wenas which then was one of the most pretentious in the Yakima valley and still remains as one of the landmarks here. In order to build this house he had to send to Tumwater, by way of Olympia, for sash and doors, the difficulties besetting the early home-builder being more readily understood if it is recalled that no railroads then existed. Besides general agricultural pursuits, Mr. Longmire has also given much attention to live stock and has become one of the large stock raisers of the valley. Moreover, he was one of the first orchardists here, planting his first orchard in 1872. Although he thus gave great impetus to an industry that is now very important to the valley and proved the suitability of climate and soil for that purpose, he never went into orchardizing commercially. On the 12th of September, 1869, David Longmire was united in marriage to Elizabeth Pollard, of Thurston county, Washington, a daughter of Asa and Tillatha (Taylor) Pollard, who in 1864 came by ox team to Washington from Iowa, taking up their abode in Thurston county and being numbered among the pioneer settlers of this state. After nineteen years of happy married life Mrs. Longmire passed away November 16, 1888, and on the 23d of December, 1890, Mr. Longmire married Mrs. Lizzie (Lotz) Treat. a daughter of George and Katherine Lotz, natives of Germany. Mr. Lotz came to Washington in 1851, during the early days in pioneering, his wife following him in 1855. for they had been married in Germany previous to that time. She brought with her her three children, one of whom died while she was en route. Mr. Lotz was a cabinetmaker by trade but he turned his attention to farming after coming to this state, locating in Thurston county. There he died in 1895, being survived by his widow until 1901. To the first marriage of Mr. Longmire were born the following children: Alice, who married A. J. Lotz, a successful rancher of the Wenas valley, by whom she has five children, of whom four are daughters; Asa and Falter, both of whom died in infancy; Martha, who married C. C. Porter, a rancher on the Tieton, by whom she has two sons and five daughters; Burnetta, the wife of B. F. Small, a rancher of the Wenas valley, by whom she has a son, Clarence; David E., also engaged in ranching in the Wenas valley and who is mentioned more extensively on other pages of this work; George B., who is ranching in the Wenas valley and is married and has two daughters; and James Guy, who is a rancher in the same locality and is married and has one child. Of the second marriage of Mr. Longmire was born a son, Roy Bryan, who is in the United States army. He is married and has a son, Donald Roy, three years of age. Mrs. Lizzie Longmire had three children by her marriage to Mr. Treat. A. E. Treat, the eldest, is a rancher residing near Wapato with his wife and daughter. Harvey C., a resident of Tacoma, is also married and has two children. The other, Oliver R. Treat, died at the age of eighteen months. Mr. and Mrs. Longmire enjoy the highest regard and esteem in their neighborhood and in fact throughout the Yakima valley, where they are widely known. Both being members of distinguished pioneer families, their lives have been closely connected with the growth which has made this valley one of the most prosperous in the state. They are members of the Christian church, in the work of which they are actively and helpfully interested. Along political lines Mr. Longmire is a democrat and follows the party's lead as far as national politics are concerned, but in local affairs prefers to give his support to the man whom he considers best fitted to the office to which he aspires, irrespective of party affiliation. He has ever been deeply interested in public issues and in fact has promoted numerous measures which have proven of great benefit to the general public. He has served as justice of the peace, ever dispensing fair and impartial judgments, and twice has held the position of county commissioner, doing everything in his power to make Yakima county one of the best governed within the state. Many are the projects which he has promoted in order to bring his county to the front by instituting public improvements which would be of benefit to the county along material as well as ideal lines. Fraternally Mr. Longmire is a Mason, having been a member of the blue lodge since 1883, and the principles which underlie this organization have guided him in his conduct toward his fellowmen. There is nothing surprising in the success which he has achieved as it is the outcome of energy and industry, applied to opportunities which were within the reach of all those who came here as pioneers, yet he has shown besides these qualities the foresight which is necessary in launching enterprises of the right kind at the right time and place and the conviction of being on the right road and thus bringing them to a satisfactory end. He stands today as one of the most prosperous and substantial citizens, and looking back in retrospect to the days of the Indians, he has the satisfaction of feeling that he has had a great part in bringing about the prosperous conditions which now prevail. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.