12) Dexter Shoudy - Master - 1897

This is a work in process; the following information has been gathered so far:

Dexter Shoudy.  

 

And here is a picture of his house "The Shoudy Mansion" which still stands in grand style on 5th street in Ellensburg:

 

That is likely Dexter standing on the porch - but it doesn't really count as a photo of Dexter!

An Illustrated History of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas Counties, Interstate Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1904

DEXTER SHOUDY, proprietor of the Palmerston hotel, Spokane, was born in Seattle, Washington, August 21, 1868. He is the eldest son of John A. and Mary Ellen (Stuart) Shoudy, the former a native of Illinois, where he was born December 14, 1842, and the latter a native of Kentucky, where she was born in 1846. 

 

John A. Shoudy, Sr., died in Ellensburg May 25, 1901. His wife was a pioneer of California; as well as of Washington, having crossed the Plains with her parents in early days, and is still living. John A. Shoudy, Sr., was one of the most honored and respected pioneers of the Kittitas valley and his biography will be found on another page of this work. 

 

In 1870 he purchased of Jack Splawn the log cabin and trading post located on the present site of Ellensburg and engaged in trading with the Indians and cattle men. Two years later, in 1872, he moved his family, consisting of wife, his son Dexter and his daughter Laura, from Seattle to the trading post, and here Dexter Shoudy grew to manhood.  He attended the public schools of Ellensburg and at a very early age began clerking for his father in the store, at times also looking after his father's herd of horses on the range. In later years he acquired a practical knowledge of bookkeeping and assumed management of his father's business. In 1888, at the age of twenty, he became half owner of the Ellensburg electric light plant and also of the city flouring mills, taking an active part in the management of both enterprises.

In 1890, Mr. Shoudy was married in Seattle to Miss Hattie A. Johnson, a native of Rockland, Washington, where she was born September 3, 1868. Mrs. Shoudy is the daughter of Thomas and Anna (Connell) Johnson, the father now a citizen of Cle-Elum. Thomas Johnson was a pioneer of Goldendale, Washington, and came to Ellensburg many years ago, engaging in the merchandise business. 

Mrs. Shoudy's mother was a native of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Shoudy were schoolmates in Ellensburg. Mrs. Shoudy has one sister and two brothers Mrs. Elizabeth Dickson of Ellenshurg Edward and William Johnson of Cle-Elum. 

Mr. Shoudy has brothers and sisters as follows: Mrs. Laura Armstrong, John A. Shoudy, Jr., and Mrs. Etta Koepke, residents of Ellenshurg: Mrs. Lillie Jenkins of St. Louis, Missouri Loyal Shoudy of Seattle, and Chester P. Shoudy of Spokane. When Mr. Shoudy returned from his wedding trip in 1890, he found the old signboard over his father's place of business removed, and in its stead was a new one hearing his own name, telling him that, as a wedding present, his father had turned over to him the stock of merchandise and all outstanding accounts. He at once took charge of the business and remained in charge until 1894, when he was elected county treasurer. He filled this office in an acceptable manner until January, 1897. In March of this year he went to Portland as agent for the Northwestern Improvement Company, and, later in the same year, was transferred to Spokane, where he established the present agency at that place. In 1898 he was made general agent of the company and retained this position until March, 1904, when he assumed management of the Palmerston hotel, Spokane. 

Previous to his connection with the Northwestern Improvement Company, Mr. Shoudy's life having been spent in Ellensburg, no one of the pioneers of that city is more conversant with its history or with the reminiscent incidents connected with its early days. He has in his possession the first money order issued by the Ellensburg postoffice. It is dated September 4, 1883, and was drawn on the Chicago postoffice for forty-seven cents. 

Mr. Shoudy is a blue lodge Mason and also belongs to the Elks, the Sons of Veterans, the uniform rank, K. of P., the D.O.K.K., the Junior Order of American Mechanics, and the W. of W. He is an active Republican and always takes a lively interest in the success of the party. Although not now a resident of Ellensburg, he is classed with the earliest pioneers of the city and of Kittitas county and is one of the most highly esteemed of those who were factors in the settlement and development of both city and county.

 
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