The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 231 CLARENCE E. DUFFY. Clarence E. Duffy, who is now serving his second term as sheriff of Benton county, was born in Mahaska county, Iowa. December 3, 1878, his parents being William John and Ruth (Van Sickle) Duffy, natives of Virginia and Missouri respectively. In the '70s they removed to Pottawattamie county, Iowa, later to Sioux county and still later to Lyon county that state, the father always following agricultural pursuits. At a subsequent period they took up their residence in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and in 1898 they came to Washington, settling at Sunnyside, where the father acquired wild land which he improved to a considerable extent and then sold. He is now cultivating another farm, being still actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. His wife has passed away, her death occurring in 1885. Clarence E. Duffy was educated in the public schools of Iowa and throughout his life has followed agricultural pursuits with the exception of the period from 1906 to 1914, when he was engaged in road and ditch construction work in the Yakima valley. Having become well known throughout Benton county, his name was tendered the public for the office of Sheriff and in 1913 he was elected to that office. So faithfully and fearlessly did he discharge his duties and with such good results that in 1915 he was reelected and is now serving. He has succeeded in ridding the county to a large extent of the bad element and has in return earned the admiration of all law-abiding citizens. In 1904 Mr. Duffy was united in marriage to Miss Leah Anderson and their children are five in number, namely: Alpha, William E., Paul, Dorothy and Don. Both Mr. and Mrs. Duffy are well known in Prosser and have many friends in the city. Mr. Duffy is a member of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen and in politics is a republican, always upholding the standards of that party. He has ever stood for the development and upbuilding of his district and is always ready to aid worthy public movements. He has wild land in Idaho and the Yakima valley and some day expects to give more attention to its cultivation. As a sheriff he ranks with the best Benton county has ever had and it is therefore but natural that his untiring labors have earned the appreciation of his constituents. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.