The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 699

JAMES H. FRASER.

James H. Fraser, a successful and prominent orchardist, lives on his ranch in
the Naches valley in the summer and in Yakima during the winter. He was born in
New Zealand, May 15, 1860. His parents, Hugh and Jennie (Thompson) Fraser, were
natives of Scotland and in early life went to New Zealand, where the father
engaged in the live stock business. Thinking to have still better opportunities,
however, he left that country and made his way to Oregon, arriving at The
Dalles in 1877. There he became identified with the live stock business and in
course of time was accounted one of the most prominent sheep men of that
section, pasturing large flocks in the district. He was one of the first to take
sheep into the state and he was one of the first to introduce sheep into the
Mackenzie country, the southern part of New Zealand, where he had over thirty
thousand head. He engaged in sheep raising on an almost equally extensive scale
in Oregon, having twenty thousand head there, and in addition he raised cattle
and horses. His business interests made him a man of prominence in the community
and one whose contribution to the general development and upbuilding of the
district was important. His demise occurred in 1914 and his wife has also passed
away. Both were consistent members of the Presbyterian church and their
religious faith guided them in all of life's relations.

James H. Fraser pursued his education in the public schools and the University
of New Zealand and also in Oakland, California. He then entered into active
connection with the sheep and cattle business in Oregon, having gained valuable
experience along that line through assistance rendered to his father in previous
years. He became one of the leading stockmen of the district and also one of the
prominent wheat growers but disposed of his interests there in 1898 and came to
the Yakima valley. He took up his abode in the city of Yakima, where he engaged
in the vehicle and implement business for seven years, winning substantial
success, but at the end of that time he sold out. He then purchased one hundred
and twenty-five acres of land on the lower Naches, of which he afterward
disposed of forty-five acres. The balance is devoted to the raising of apples
and pears and he now has seventy-five acres in orchards. His equipment for
handling his fruit is thoroughly adequate. He has his own packing plant and
every modern facility for caring for the fruit and he has taken a most
progressive stand in connection with all of his work.

On July 1, 1886, Mr. Fraser was married to Miss Lillian A. Wright, who was born
in Zanesville, Ohio, a daughter of the Rev. John A. and Eva (Vestal) Wright, who
removed to Oregon at an early day. To Mr. and Mrs. Fraser have been born the
following named: Clifford M., who has a wife and three children; Lillian Zelah,
the wife of C. B. White, an attorney of Seattle; and James, E., who is attending
high school.

Mr. Fraser is a well known Mason, belonging to Yakima Lodge No. 24, F. & A. M.,
and Yakima Chapter No. 21. R. A. M. He also has membership with the Modern
Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World, while his religious faith is
indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church, to the teachings of
which he loyally adheres. His political endorsement is given to the republican
party but he does not seek nor desire office, preferring that his undivided
attention shall be given to his business affairs. He has, however, been chairman
of the Commercial Club of Yakima for one term and he was chairman of the
committee that adjusted the water rights of the Yakima valley up to the Columbia
river and appointed all of the sub-committees having this work in charge. Mr.
Fraser was also active in politics and in public affairs in Oregon and has ever
been a man of wide influence, owing to the fact that his vision is keen, his
judgment sound and his views at all times practical. His orchards, however, are
the paramount interests in his life and he has attained prominence as one of the
fruit growers of his section of the state. In his undertakings his sons are now
associated with him. They raise their own nursery stock and they develop their
orchards according to the most modern, progressive and scientific methods. They
closely study the trees, the demands made upon the soil and the care of their
orchards to protect them from blight or hurt of any kind. They have the latest
spraying devices and everything necessary to keep their trees in good condition
and the extent of their interests as well as their progressive methods have
made the name of Fraser synonymous with progressive orcharding in the Yakima
valley.

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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.