The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 607

JOHN H. CORBETT.

John H. Corbett, contractor of Yakima, was born in New York city, January 11,
1867. His parents, Lawrence M. and Mary (Jackson) Corbett, passed away in the
Empire state, where the father had for many years engaged in business as a
contractor and builder. The son acquired a public school education and afterward
took up the study of architecture in Cooper Institute of New York. He embarked
in business in the eastern metropolis in 1893 and there remained in the practice
of his profession until 1897, when he sought the opportunities of the west,
making his way to Montana. The following year, however, he came to Yakima and
purchased a fruit ranch but in 1902 turned his attention to the contracting
business, in which he has since been engaged. Since that date he has erected
many important structures of the city, including the high school building, the
Young Men's Christian Association building, the Masonic Temple, the state fair
buildings and numerous fine residences, business blocks and warehouses. He has
been engaged in contracting in Yakima since he took up his residence here, and
his work has been highly satisfactory, adding much to the beauty of Yakima,
while at all times in his building operations he closely studies utility and
convenience as well as beauty. He was the builder of the clubhouse of the
Country Club, also of the Christian church and many other attractive structures
of Yakima.

In 1895 Mr. Corbett was united in marriage to Miss Emily Alexander, of New York
city, and they now have two children: Alexander H., who is a student in the
state university, making a specialty of structural engineering; and Margaret,
who is also in school.

Mr. Corbett belongs to Yakima Lodge, No. 24, F. & A. M., of which he is a past
master. He also has membership in Yakima Chapter, No. 21, R. A. M.; Yakima
Commandery, K. T.; and Afifi Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Tacoma. His
membership relations extend to the Elks, to the Knights of Pythias, the Modern
Woodmen, the Commercial Club and the Country Club and he is a member of the
Episcopal church. His political endorsement is given to the republican party,
and while never a politician in the sense of office seeking, he served as
president of the school hoard of Yakima in 1917. His course has ever measured up
to high standards of American manhood and chivalry. Industry and reliability
have been made the foundation of his business success, while enterprise and
progress have characterized him in every public relation and duty.

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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.