katselh  
 

Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",  published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.


     HARRY C. KATSEL, a farmer residing one and one half miles northeast of Davenport, is a native of Moultrie county, Illinois, born October 26, 1865.  His father, Christian Katsel, was born in Germany and came to the United States in his early manhood and lived in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kansas prior to his coming to Lincoln, Washington, where he died in his eighty-first year, September 5, 1900.  Our subject's mother was Elizabeth (Mann) Katsel, a native of Ohio.  Her father, Isaac Mann, served in the war of 1812.  She died in Spokane county, 1892, at the age of seventy years.  Mr.  Katsel has one brother and one sister: George C., near Reardan; and Mrs. Mollie Walton, of Spokane.
     At the age of thirteen Harry Katsel removed with his parents to Kansas, and while in that state lived in the counties of Greenwood and Bourbon.  He was married, December 19, 1886, to Cynthia A. McNeil, who was born and raised in Bourbon county, Kansas.  Her father and mother were George and Matilda (Harris) McNeil, natives respectively, of Ohio and Indiana.  Mr. McNeil was a Civil War veteran, and died on September 28, 1897, at Medical Lake, Washington, whether he came in 1891.  Mrs. McNeil is still living in Spokane.  The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Katsel are; Albert E., a merchant of Spokane; Oscar, at Baker City, Oregon; and Lovey J., wife of Orville Holderby, of Lincoln county.
     Two years following his marriage, Harry C. Katsel came to Spokane, and soon afterward engaged in the grocery business in partnership with his brother George.  Selling out in Spokane, he, in 1895, removed to Medical Lake, and the following spring came to his present location.  He owns one hundred and sixty acres of fertile land, good improvements with an abundance of water, and makes a specialty of raising grain.  In addition to his own farm he has rented nearly eighteen hundred acres of ground, which he farms.  He has plenty of stock, implements, and so forth, including a threshing outfit and headers, with which to carry on his extensive operations.
     Socially, he is identified with the M. W. A. fraternity, and both he and Mrs. Katsel are members of the Baptist church.  They are also both active workers in school affairs.
     Mr. and Mrs. Katsel have had born to them two children; Orlie A., on March 15, 1893; and George O., on December 8, 1897.  The last named died December 30, 1902.
     Mr. Katsel is a prosperous and up-to-date farmer, a man of truth and honor, and of the highest moral as well as business standing in his community.
 


BACK