Prosser’s First Citizen

Col. William Farrand Prosser staked a homestead claim on the banks of the Yakima River in 1882 and for whom the City of Prosser was named, and was a native of Pennsylvania.

He was born March 16, 1834, near Williamsport, Pa. Politically, Col. Prosser was a Republican and was the first Republican candidate to file in Trinity County for a seat in the California Legislature in 1860. He received a commission of Major of the Second Tennessee Cavalry Regiment in March 1863; Lieutenant Colonel in the same regiment in 1864 and was made a Colonel in June 1865. He was mustered out on July 6. 1865.

On April 6, 1880, he married Miss Flora Thornton and in 1882 Col. Prosser exercised his right of homestead, filing on a claim in the eastern part of Yakima County. In 1886 he was elected Auditor of Yakima County for a term of two years.

In 1889, Col. Prosser had the single honor or being one of 75 delegates named to the Constitutional Convention which convened in Olympia July 4 to frame the Constitution for the new state of Washington. He passed away in Seattle on September 23, 1911, at the age of 77 years.

Nelson Rich

Was a pioneer whose name in Prosser and all Benton County is synonymous with honor, honesty, integrity, justice and virtue. Whether he weighed a pound of sugar, platted a piece of land or paid a laborer his day’s wage; his relations with all individuals were based on the principles of the square, the compass, the level and the plumb line. He was given a contract to build the Northern Pacific from Roza to the tunnel.

The first store operated by Mr. Rich was located on the southeast corner of what is now the Benton County Courthouse square. Living quarters were maintained in the rear of the building. Later the Rich home, which was a mansion in its day, was erected on the site of the courthouse. Mr. Rich passed away in April 1932 at the age of 88 years old. Lewis A. Heinzerling

Was a native of Pennsylvania, having been thoroughly imbued with the spirit of Horace Greeley’s quotation, “Go West, Young Man, Go West!” He had already migrated to Missouri and then in 1886, Mr. Heinzerling left his home and his travels brought him eventually to Prosser.

Mr. Heinzerling visualized a flour mill at a certain spot on the riverbank below the falls and conferred with Colonel Prosser regarding the matter.

This first citizen in turn negotiated with the Chief of the Indian tribe, then camped along the river, and got permission for Mr. Heinzerling to build his “dream mill” at this point. He returned to Missouri to make ready to bring his family to Prosser.

Many Indians were camped on both sides of the river near the falls at that season, awaiting the salmon run.

Mrs. Nellie Knapp, a daughter of Mr. Heinzerling, in relating the incident, said: “The Lord was more than good to both Indians and whites that year for we had the largest run of salmon I have ever known.”

Mr. Heinzerling was also a bridge builder. The lower bridge over the Yakima River leading to the Rattlesnake was his handiwork and later in 1906, Mr. Heinzerling also built the original Sixth Street bridge across the Yakima River. The brave pioneer and capable and faithful builder of early Prosser, Lewis A. Heinzerling, he passed away 1923 at the age of 80 old.