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William Thompson Stobie Sr.

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Birth	:	20 Dec 1843 Scotland
Death	:	16 Feb 1926 Sunnyside, Yakima County, Washington, USA
Burial	:	Lower Valley Memorial Gardens, Sunnyside, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate	:	46.3450012, -120.0117035
Plot	:	Block B, Lot 7, Grave 3
Description	:	Crieff, Scotland parents James Stobie and Elizabeth Thompson brothers; James Stobie 1841-1919 #65112742 Joseph Stobie 1853-1931 #63218904 ------------------------------ The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 864 A portrait of William Stobie appears in this publication. WILLIAM STOBIE. William Stobie has a fine home standing in the midst of one hundred and twenty-six acres of land not far distant from Sunnyside. Much of this was covered with the native sagebrush when it came into his possession and his labors have wrought a marked transformation, converting it into rich and productive fields. The life record of William Stobie is... Read More	Crieff, Scotland parents James Stobie and Elizabeth Thompson brothers; James Stobie 1841-1919 #65112742 Joseph Stobie 1853-1931 #63218904 ------------------------------ The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 864 A portrait of William Stobie appears in this publication. WILLIAM STOBIE. William Stobie has a fine home standing in the midst of one hundred and twenty-six acres of land not far distant from Sunnyside. Much of this was covered with the native sagebrush when it came into his possession and his labors have wrought a marked transformation, converting it into rich and productive fields. The life record of William Stobie is an interesting one. He is a Scot by birth, his natal day being December 20, 1843. His parents, JAMES STOBIE and ELIZABETH THOMPSON, also natives of Scotland, crossed the Atlantic To Canada in 1845 and there the father engaged in farming until his death. William Stobie was less than two years of age when the family home was established in Canada, where he was reared and attended the public schools to the age of eleven years. He was but ten years old when his father died and since the age of twelve has made his own way in the world. He crossed the border into The United States and has since been dependent entirely upon his labors and resources. In 1863, in response to the country's call for aid to preserve the Union, he enlisted in the First New York Light Artillery as a member of Battery K, under Captain Stoughton, and served until the close of the war with a most creditable military record, being honorably discharged and mustered out in 1865. He then took up blacksmithing and also canal boat building, to which he devoted a year in New York. In 1867 he removed to Missouri, where he engaged in farming and also conducted a blacksmith shop. In 1869 he became a resident of Kansas and for two years again engaged in farming and Blacksmithing. In 1871 he started for the Black Hills. but changing his plans, took up his abode at Central City,Colorado, where he continued for a year. He afterward spent a similar period at Floyd Hill, Colorado, and then went to Idaho Springs, Colorado, where he remained for two years. He was next at Platte Station, Colorado, and thence went to Weston, Colorado, and on to Buena Vista, where he conducted a blacksmith shop and also engaged in freighting. He "pulled" the first six-mule team into Pitkin, Colorado. Later he went to Alamosa, Colorado, where he did railway contracting on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. He followed freighting,railroad building and other work of that character at various points in Colorado and New Mexico in the typical Indian days when one had to endure all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, and he was in New Mexico at the time of one of the Indian scares there. He did a large amount of railway construction work in Pocatello, Idaho, and on the Snake river, around Elizabeth Station, also at Shoshone, Idaho, and other places for the Oregon Short Line. He was likewise engaged in railroad contract work on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy in Minnesota and North Dakota. His experiences have been indeed broad and varied, connecting him with many lines of business activity and bringing to him an intimate and comprehensive knowledge of the conditions of the country over which he has worked. After putting aside railroad contract work Mr. Stobie took up a homestead in Thomas county, Kansas, in 1885, securing a tract of land which was entirely wild and undeveloped, but his home and fortunes were wrecked by a cyclone in 1887. He then went to Colorado, where he did contract work on the Union Pacific Railroad,and he also engaged in railway building under contract at various points in the west. He likewise took contracts for street work in the west and in British Columbia and thus became associated with the interests and development of this section of the country. In October, 1891, he arrived in Yakima county to do contract work on the Sunnyside canal and built over thirty miles of the main canal, together with many laterals all over the lower valley. The canal company, however, met with financial disaster and Mr. Stobie lost heavily thereby. It was then that he turned his attention to agricultural interests, securing a claim of sixty acres of sagebrush land as part payment for some of his work. He at once began the development of his ranch and he now has a fine home and valuable property. He has bought more land until his holdings now aggregate one hundred and twenty-six acres, splendidly improved with all the equipments and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. On the 27th of April, 1878, Mr. Stobie was joined in wedlock to Miss MARY THURMAN, who was born in Germany and came to the ]United States at the age of eighteen years. By a former marriage Mr. Stobie has three children, as follows: CORA E., who is the wife of GEORGE MADISON, a ranchman of Yakima county; ALICE,who lives in Texas and is the wife of ALEX CARTHORN; and WILLIAM THOMAS, a Rancher of Yakima county. Fraternally Mr. Stobie is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is also a member of Weber Post, No. 179, G. A. R., of Sunnyside. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. His experiences of life have been varied, broad and interesting. In Colorado he and his wife once had to run from the Indians and with team and buckboard drove a distance of one hundred and forty miles without stopping. They then camped, but a bear scared the team, which ran away. However, Mr. Stobie caught the team, after which they drove all night, managing to elude the Indians. There is no phase of pioneer life or experience with which he is not familiar and he has contributed much to the development and upbuilding of the west. He has assisted in building various drainage projects and roads and he is today one of the oldest settlers in his part of Yakima county, having the first house built in the section in which he lives. His success is well deserved, for with patience, determination and energy he has continued his labors, undeterred by obstacles and difficulties. and in due time has arrived at the goal of prosperity, being now one of the successful ranchmen in the vicinity of Sunnyside. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William Thompson Stobie Sr.'s memorial?
William Thompson Stobie Sr.'s memorial is located at: Lower Valley Memorial Gardens, Sunnyside, Yakima County, USA.
When did William Thompson Stobie Sr. death?
William Thompson Stobie Sr. death on 16 Feb 1926 in Sunnyside, Yakima County, Washington, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William Thompson Stobie Sr.'s memorial?
Latitude: 46.3450012
Longitude: -120.0117035

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Dorothea Elizabeth Thurman Stobie

(1848 - 1933)

Siblings

Joseph Stobie

(1853 - 1931)

Children

Korah Elizabeth Stobie Mathieson

(1868 - 1945)

William Thompson Stobie Jr.

(1872 - 1946)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Lower Valley Memorial Gardens
Sunnyside, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3450012, -120.0117035

2. Holy Trinity Episcopal Close
Sunnyside, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3235000, -120.0158500

3. Outlook Cemetery
Yakima, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3208008, -120.0811005

4. Grandview Cemetery
Grandview, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2658005, -119.8902969

5. Mabton Cemetery
Mabton, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2285995, -119.9852982

6. Smohalla Cemetery
Toppenish, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3009660, -120.2186250

7. Black Rock Cemetery
Moxee City, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5111084, -119.9985962

8. Zillah German Baptist Cemetery
Zillah, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4128550, -120.2506400

9. McCoy Cemetery
Toppenish, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3835983, -120.2755966

10. Zillah Cemetery
Zillah, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4055202, -120.2726072

11. Prosser Pioneer Cemetery
Prosser, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.1947937, -119.8095245

12. Winnier Cemetery
Toppenish, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3590060, -120.3192450

13. Elmwood Cemetery
Toppenish, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3673830, -120.3334530

14. Prosser Cemetery
Prosser, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2047539, -119.7541504

15. Glade Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.0778008, -120.0914001

16. Smina Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2372017, -120.4269028

17. Beaver Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.0993996, -120.2866974

18. Holy Rosary Cemetery
Moxee City, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5531006, -120.3585968

19. Holland Cemetery
Moxee City, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5766983, -120.3861008

20. Meninick Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.1981010, -120.4741974

21. Evergreen Cemetery
Benton City, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2867012, -119.4938965

22. Union Gap Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5209084, -120.4850998

23. Reservation Community Memorial Park
Wapato, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4484291, -120.5375519

24. Toweatmy Cemetery
Toppenish, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.1794014, -120.5056000