The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 374 A portrait of Philip H. Schnebly appears in this publication. PHILIP HENRY SCHNEBLY. No history of Ellensburg would be complete without extended reference of Philip Henry Schnebly, who has resided in Kittitas county for more than forty-six years and has always made his home in the northwest. He has contributed much toward the upbuilding of this great western empire and has for many years figured as one of the foremost representatives of its ranching and stock raising interests. He was born near Oregon City, Oregon, October 8, 1852, a son of David J. and Margaret (Painter) Schnebly, who were natives of Maryland and of Missouri respectively. The father crossed the plains in 1850 and took up his abode at Oregon City. The mother was a daughter of Joseph Painter, who started on the long trip to the far west in 1850 but died while en route, and two of his sons died of cholera on the trip. The mother of Mr. Schnebly of this review, together with the others of the family, continued the journey and they, too, took up their abode in Oregon, settling at Linn City, not far from Oregon City. It was in that state that the parents of Philip Henry Schnebly were married. The father was at one time owner and publisher of the Oregon Spectator, the first newspaper established in the northwest, which he purchaser from the founder. In 1861 he removed with his family to Walla Walla, Washington, and there he took up the occupation of farming but always continued to write for the papers. Later he conducted a toll bridge across the Spokane river and in 1871 he removed to Ellensburg, where he took up government land and turned his attention to the live stock business on a small scale. Later, however, he once more became an active factor in journalistic circles, owning the Localizer, which was the first newspaper published at Ellensburg. This he conducted until three years prior to his death, which occurred on the 5th of January, 1901, when he had reached the age of eighty-four years. In his youthful days Philip Henry Schnebly attended school with Professor W. D. Lyman in the Forest Grove Seminary. Becoming a resident of Ellensburg in 1872, he, too, took up the live stock business in a small way and he had to drive his cattle over the Cascades to Seattle to make sales. He entered land from the government and in the course of years, as the country became more thickly settled, his business interests developed and he became one of the prominent stockmen of the state. He and his sons today have over two thousand head of cattle and over two thousand acres of meadow land, together with more than forty thousand acres of range land. This is now owned by Mr. Schnebly and his six sons. For the past ten years, however, Mr. Schnebly has lived in Ellensburg, where he is most comfortably situated. As the years have passed he has built up a fine herd of cattle and is today recognized as one of the most prominent stockmen of the state. He has developed his herds along progressive lines, has exercised the utmost care over his stock and has done much to improve the grade of stock raised in this section of the state. His opinions concerning all problems of stock raising are largely accepted as authority, for it is well known that his long experience in this line enables him to speak with accuracy and sound judgment on all questions relating to the business. On the 12th of November, 1877, Mr. Schnebly was united in marriage to Miss Eliza F. Cooke, who was born in Independence, Oregon, May 1, 1860, a daughter of Charles P. and Susan E. Cooke. The father was born in what is now Sandusky, Erie county, Ohio, February 5, 1824, and was a descendant of Puritans who came to America as passengers on the Mayflower in 1620, Francis Cooke and his son John sailing on that historic vessel. The ancestral line is traced down through Asaph, Asaph and Asaph Cooke to Charles P. Cooke. His great-grandfather, Asaph Cooke, had four sons who were in the Revolutionary war. The second Asaph Cooke wedded Mary Stewart, of New York, who was of Scotch ancestry. Charles P. Cooke was born and reared in Ohio and in 1846 enlisted for service in the Mexican war, becoming a second lieutenant. He was on active duty for a year, participating in the battles of Monterey, Buena Vista and other engagements. In 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast, he crossed the plains to California and made his way northward to Astoria. Oregon, where he arrived in May, 1850. He afterward began merchandising at Independence, Oregon, and continued in the business there until 1867, when he removed to Yakima county, Washington, and took up government land in the Moxee valley. In 1870 he established his home in the Kittitas valley and there resided to the time of his demise, which occurred on the 11th of October, 1888. he figured prominently in public affairs, being called to represent his district in the state legislature in 1873 and again in 1876. In 1886 he was elected to represent his district, then comprising Yakima and Kittitas counties, and in 1886 he served as joint councilman for Yakima, Kittitas, Franklin, Douglas, Adams and Lincoln counties. He was the first county auditor elected in Yakima county and he was also superintendent of schools for several terms. He likewise assisted in organizing the counties of Yakima and Kittitas and there is no feature of the substantial development and improvement of this section of the state with which he was not closely, prominently and honorably associated. He left the impress of his individuality for good upon many lines of development and improvement and he became a prominent rancher and cattle raiser. On the 29th of October, 1851, he married Susan E. Brewster, a daughter of Abraham and Amelia (Van Der Cook) Brewster, both of whom were representatives of old colonial families of New York and both families were represented in the Revolutionary war. Amelia Van Der Cook was a daughter of Henry S. Van Der Cook, a veteran of the War of 1812. Henry E. Van Der Cook was a son of Simon Van Der Cook, who served as an ensign in the Revolutionary war and also served in Captain Hendrick Van Der Hoof's company of militia in Albany county. Simon Van Der Cook was a son of Michael Van Der Cook, also an active defender of colonial interests in the war for independence, being on duty with Colonel Yates' regiment and also Colonel John Knickerbocker and Lieutenant Colonel John Van Rensselear. There were eight brothers who participated in the Revolutionary war and the same spirit of patriotism has been manifest through succeeding generations. To Mr. and Mrs. Schnebly were born ten children. Lillian May, at home, was educated in the Ellensburg schools and the Martha Washington Seminary at Washington, D. C. Fred C., who attended the Washington State College at Pullman, is now a prominent rancher of the Kittitas valley. He married Marguerite Nelson and has four children. Philip D. was also educated at the Washington State College and follows ranching in the Kittitas valley. Joseph J., who is associated with his brother Philip in ranching, was educated at the Washington State College and is now married and has three children. Jean attended the State Normal School at Ellensburg, and was graduated from the Good Samaritan Hospital at Portland, Oregon. She is now the wife of John Paul, a rancher of Alberta, Canada, by whom she has three children. Frank B., who was educated at the Washington State College and who now follows ranching in Kittitas county, is married and has one child. Edith was graduated from Whitworth College with the degree of B. S. She is now the wife of Chester C. McGranahan, who is serving in the United States army. Edna was also educated at Whitworth College, where she made a special study of music, and is now at home. Rufus Charles and Robert David, twins, were in the service of their country during the World's war and are now students at the Washington State College at Pullman and are members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Edith and Edna are members of the Kappa Gamma Society and Lillian and Edith are members of the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Schnebly and the family are all connected with the Episcopal church. Mr. Schnebly has always given his political allegiance to the republican party and his aid and cooperation can at all tunes be counted upon to further measures and movements for the public good. He is a typical western pioneer, alert, energetic and determined, readily recognizing opportunities and utilizing them to the best possible advantage. Moreover, he is a self-made man and, while he now ranks among the prosperous residents of his section of the state, his success has been won entirely through his own efforts and his record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what may be accomplished when there is a will to dare and to do. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.