The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-03-17
Mr.. Louis Her Thirty-twO Years a
Resident of Yakima County.
STORY or THE EARLY TINES
Frontier "reminiscences Of an Interesting
Character With Glimpses of the Life
of Brave and Fearless
Soldier.

burg of Yakima City, under his own
vine aud tig-tree, lives aquaint parsonage
who, perhaps, can tell more of the his
tory Of this fertile valley, more of hard
fought Indian battles, and more OF actual
frontier lite than anyone else within the
bord r OF Yakima county.
His name is Louis Ner. and while he
has spent more than the usual time allot-
ted to man, is nevertheless hale and
hearty and with a mind as active and
bright as when, in the SOS, he settled in
what, as he said, was the prettiest conn.
try he had ever laid eyes on.
/, Mr.. Ker was born on the Emerald isle
~ yesrs ago, hut Notwithstanding this
fact, no truer American or Drawer defend
er of the stars and stripes ever lived.
Soon after coming to this country Mr..
Ker entered the army, being stationed at
Fortress Monroe, where after mertorio1s
and efficient service he was put in com
mand Of one OF the biz guns, and at that
time the lsrtes. gun in the service IN the
United States. Early in 1850 the 9th
infantry was formed under Gen. Church
i'll and Col. Wright, and Mr.. ker joined
the company, which was soon ordered to
proceed west to fight the Indians on the
frontier of Oregon. Their first battle
was fought near the cascades on the
Columbia, March %, 1856, the regiment
4. I,A of
Wright. Among the other troops en-
gagged were two companies OF the 4th IN
fantry and a detachment OF the "a dra-
poons under the command Of General
then lieutenant-Ph Sheridan. Later
in the year the regiment was ordered to
this part of the country, being stationed
for time at Fort Simcoe. 1t was then
that Mr.. Ker decided that he had reached
a country that WAS good enough for him
and concluded to shake Uncle Sam and
make a start in life for himself, although
having had tempting offers Ito remain in
the army, and having passed a successful
examination at Fort Vancouver which
entitled him to a commission. While
army life had its charms, there were other
things which seemed to outweigh these
attractions, so in 1860 he received his
discharge at Fort Colville, returning inn
mediately to this valley, where he began
to gather about him considerable live
stock.
The first white family to come into this
part of the country, Mr.. ker says, was
one by the name Of Hall, who came in
1857 remaining until 80 when they re-
m )vel to kitttas county. Mr.. Ker has
ever remained u resident OF Yakima
county, except for short periods at a time
one OF which was when, as a member OF
U. s. geological surveying party he
visited Alaska, going to the head OF the
Sti ,keen river. This was in the year
1876. OF late years he has been satisfied
his entertaining way to tell OF his
early experiences in this unsettled and
untutored country.
Mr.. ker is man of sterling qualities
one whose word is his bond, and whom
every one has come to regard as such.
His friends delight to tell OF little incl-
dent that shows the character OF the
man, and which makes a nice little story
for THE HERALD. Subst antially it is as
follows;
In the early days, when money was
scarce, and when nearly every one in
this then sparsely settled country found
cattle raising the most remunerative bust
ness to engage in. Mr.. ker bought mum
Der of young cattle, giving his word that
he would pay for them on certain date.
Time rolled on, and Mr.. Ker finding
something more lucrative ..elsew here, dis
appeared, no one seemingly knowing
where. AS the time for the payment OF
the amount drew near the holder of the
account began to have grave fears OF its
being paid and said as much This was
too much for one OF Mr.. Ker's friends
who overheard the remark, and he ven
tured to wager that the account would be
paid the date it was due. One hundred
dollars was fixed on as the1 limit of the
bet, a stakeholder was selected, and all
hands quietly awaited the approaching
day when the money should be forth
coming for the cattle. The forenoon
passed away, and the afternoon sun was
fast sinking behind the western hills.
when a crowd of dust up the road was