The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 690

ROBERT HEPBURN.

Robert Hepburn is one of the successful agriculturists of the Yakima valley whom
the Dominion of Canada has furnished to this country, for he is a native of
Quebec, Canada, and was born June 26, 1864, his parents being James and Jean
(Gilbraith) Hepburn, natives of Scotland, who removed to Canada in their early
lives. There the father was successful along agricultural lines and in the
Dominion both he and his wife passed away.

Robert Hepburn was reared under the parental roof and from his good parents
learned the first lessons of life. In the acquirement of his education he
attended the public schools of the Dominion and after laying aside his textbooks
took up the serious and arduous duties of life. In 1889, at the age of
twenty-five, he became a resident of Kittitas county, Washington, and for about
three years, or until 1892, worked as a farm hand. He carefully saved his
earnings and in that year was able to lease one hundred and sixty acres of land
four mils southwest of Ellensburg and so well did he apply himself to the
cultivation of this tract that in five years he was able to buy the property.
Mr. Hepburn has built a residence upon the property and has also erected barns
to afford shelter for his stock and grain. He has ever followed progressive
methods and has made many improvements upon the farm, devoting his acres largely
to the raising of hay and grain and also deriving a gratifying income from
dairying, to which he gives considerable attention. He has planted an orchard
and is thoroughly acquainted with the climatic conditions prevailing here and
has carefully studied the soil, so that he is able to operate his farm to the
best advantage. Moreover, he is a business man of more than ordinary acumen and
carefully gauges his opportunities in order to obtain the best prices for his
produce and stock.

On April 16, 1901, Mr. Hepburn was united in marriage to Miss Cynthia Rogers, a
daughter of W. S. Rogers, a Civil war veteran. Her father came to the Kittitas
valley in 1887 and here took up farming but is now deceased. Mrs. Hepburn is a
native of Texas and by her marriage she has become the mother of eight children:
Henry, who is in the United States navy; Nellie, who married J. R. Jones, a
resident of Ellensburg; Alja, the wife of Ed Polley, of Ellensburg; Blanche, who
is the wife of Tracy Phelps, of Sunnyside, Washington; Spencer, seventeen years
of age; Frank, aged fifteen; Margaret Jean, eleven; and Alfred, nine years of
age.

In his political affiliations Mr. Hepburn is a republican, being thoroughly in
accord with the principles of that party. Although interested in anything that
has for its purpose the upbuilding of the community, he is not a public man in
the commonly accepted sense of the word, preferring to concentrate his
attention upon his private interests and doing his duties as a citizen at the
ballot box only. He has made many friends in Ellensburg and vicinity, all of
whom are agreed as to his high qualities of character. Being a self-made man,
there is great credit due Mr. Hepburn for what he has achieved, as his
prosperity has been brought about entirely through his own efforts. Farsighted,
progressive, industrious and reliable, he is a loyal American and typically
western, demonstrating in his career what may be achieved in this state when
industry and perseverance lead the way.

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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.