The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 674

WALTER L. ARMS.

General farming interests near Outlook have for a number of years claimed the
attention of Walter L. Arms, who now owns fifty acres in this district, largely
devoted to hay, corn and potatoes, although he also gives close attention to
the dairy which he operates in connection with the faun. A native of Randolph,
Wisconsin, he was born October 31, 1876, his parents being Myron and Mary
(Parish) Arms, both natives of Vermont and pioneers of Wisconsin. The father was
a son of Richard Arms, who brought the family to Wisconsin when his son Myron
was but a small boy. The father and grandfather successfully followed
agricultural pursuits and both died in Wisconsin, in which state the mother is
still living.

Walter L. Arms was reared upon his father's farm and in the acquirement of his
education attended the public schools, while at the same time, under the
guidance of his father, he became acquainted with thorough agricultural methods.
Desiring to take up the same line of work as his ancestors, he realized the
value of scientific training along that vocation and took an agricultural course
at Madison, Wisconsin. He at first rented land in Wisconsin, but having heard
favorable reports of conditions in the greater west, he went to Livingston,
Montana, in 1900. There, however, he did not follow his old line of work but
became connected with a mercantile establishment. In 1902 he went to Seattle,
Washington, where he was connected with a street car line. In 1905 he came to
Yakima county and acquired a tract of forty acres of raw land, which was then
all sagebrush, located four miles northwest of Outlook. He immediately began
clearing the land and bringing it under cultivation. Energetically and
industriously he set himself to work and, applying the methods which he
considered best, he soon had his farm in a prosperous condition. He has built a
fine house and suitable barns and gives his attention largely to the raising of
hay, corn and potatoes, while also operating a dairy, from which he receives a
gratifying addition to his income. He also acquired an additional ten acres, so
that his farm now comprises fifty acres.

On March 28, 1900, Mr. Arms was united in marriage to Laura Armstrong, who was
born near Fox Lake, Wisconsin, and is a daughter of J. P. and Louise Armstrong.
farming people of that neighborhood. To this union were born two daughters,
Dorothy and Helen. Mr. and Mrs. Arms are widely and favorably known in the
Outlook district, where they have made many friends. Both are members of the
Eastern Star, while Mr. Arms also belongs to the blue lodge of Masons.
Moreover, he is a member of the Grange, in which organization he always takes a
great interest. Their religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, and in
politics Mr. Arms is a republican. In the progress and development of his
district he has ever taken a laudable interest and has never failed to give his
support to matters of public concern. Especially has the cause of education
found in him a warm champion and for the past five years he has served on the
local school board. There is much credit due him for what he has achieved, as in
a comparatively few years he has built up a valuable property and by
transforming a wild tract into a prosperous farm has contributed toward the
wealth of his district and county.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.