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. 313.
 
JAMES L. WEYTHMAN

     the subject of this sketch, should take high rank as a pioneer. He came to
Washington Territory in 1882, and for more than forty years has lived on the
homestead place above Monitor. Likewise he comes of pioneer stock, his father
having emigrated from his native Kentucky to Kansas, before Civil War days,
where he located on a homestead. The patent to this 160 acres, with the
signature of Abraham Lincoln, is in the possession of a younger brother.
     It was on this quarter section that Mr. Weythman first saw the light of
day. Kansas is now a rich and powerful state, but in those faraway times it was
successively known as "Bleeding Kansas," "Suffering Kansas," and "Starving
Kansas." It is not known just what induced young Weythman to move westward, but
doubtless the same impulse that has made thousands seek new climes, in which to
find a home, and to have a part in empire building. It is this sort of ambition
that has made America great. In 1 885, Mr. Weythman, left a point near
Vancouver, Washington, with team and wagon and started for the Wenatchee Valley.
Mr. and Mrs. Deak Brown were his fellow passengers, and this constituted their
wedding journey. In common with other would-be settlers of this now famous
country, he had been told that the place was the most isolated and desolate spot
between the two poles; that no man or set of men would ever be crazy enough to
build a railroad through such a sand pocket; that the Columbia could not be made
navigable to the sea, and consequently no wagon road would be built to the
Wenatchee Valley, and much more of the same import. But Mr. Weythman calmly
ignored the predictions of the wise, and now, having reached the comfortable age
of sixty years, he rather enjoys the philosophy of the old axiom: "he laughs
best who laughs last." During the first years of ranch development the
experience of Mr. Weythman did not widely differ from many others. To a certain
extent he engaged in the cattle business, which very generally was regarded as
the best investment from a business standpoint, but the hard winter of 1889-90
brought him some losses, and convinced him that winter feed was essential to
success in this industry. He was never without work. To enclose forty acres with
a rail or pole fence, called for much labor, for the material had to be hauled a
long distance, and there were other improvements, including the inevitable log
hut, with which most bachelors had to be content. These difficulties overcome,
there remained the heavy problem of making the ranch productive. With plenty of
water for irrigation this phase of the development became comparatively easy;
and yet without markets, the problem was far from solved. And when a young
homesteader had to wait a long time before securing the water with which to make
the soil yield its increase, he was doomed to years of painful delay. However,
young Weythman faced the situation in a spirit that denoted better times for the
future, and accordingly proceeded on the theory that some time there would be
transportation, and then a productive ranch would be worth the effort it had
cost. In the matter of first efforts at irrigation it appears that the Brown
Brothers with Mr. Weythman joined forces and constructed a ditch from the
Wenatchee River for the lower levels of land. This canal running along the steep
rocky banks of the river, made necessary the use of much lumber for fluming,
which had to be hauled from the mill on Squilchuck Creek; this added
considerably to the expense of the undertaking, but consoling themselves with
the philosophy that there is no excellence without labor, they held manfully to
the job. When completed this ditch carried an abundant supply of water, and was
a complete success—that is to say for that year—but the high water of the
following spring made a wreck of their painfully acquired first system of
irrigation, for the fluming was torn out and carried away, and much of the dirt
work destroyed. This was very serious and something had to be done. Mr.
Weythman, who had seen the current wheels in operation for lifting water along
the Snake and Columbia Rivers, proposed that the water-wheel be given a trial.
W. J. Warner living above Monitor, and something of a mill wright, agreed to
manage the construction of wheels, and this plan, quite simply worked out,
became a great boon to the ranchers along the lower lands of the Wenatchee
River. In 1891, Mr. Weythman was married to Miss Elizabeth Boyd of Illinois.
Five children have been born to this union: Bessie, Chester, John B., Ruth and
Leslie.
     Mr. and Mrs. Weythman have developed one of the best ranches and home
places in North Central Washington. Everything is restful and homelike around
the premises. The house, large and commodious, stands in the midst of shade
trees of magnificent size. To be seated in front of the big fire place on a cold
day, is a privilege that makes an old timer who has seen the seamy side of life,
feel young again. This worthy couple, feeling themselves amply blessed in the
home of their own building, give much attention to community affairs, and many
worthwhile enterprises have felt the uplifting influence of their efforts. Mr.
Weythman died December 16, 1927.

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