The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 458 A portrait of George Ker appears in this publication. GEORGE KER. George Ker is numbered among the substantial citizens that Scotland has furnished to the state of Washington. He was born in that country on the 26th of February, 1861, a son of John and Marion (Balfour) Ker, who spent their entire lives in Scotland, where the father was professor of mathematics in Glasgow university and ranked with the distinguished educators of that country. George Ker had the liberal educational training of Glasgow University, from which in due course of time he was graduated. He had attained his majority when in 1882 he bade adieu to friends and native land, and sailed for America, attracted by the opportunities of the new world. He first made his way to Pennsylvania but in 1883 removed to Texas, where he resided until 1886. In May of that year he arrived in Yakima, and, turning his attention to the cattle business, was therein successfully engaged until 1892. In the latter year he purchased eighty acres of land four miles east of Yakima and planted it to hops, since which time he has been successfully engaged in the cultivation of that crop. He also manages the affairs of the Moxee Company, which owns fifteen hundred acres of land on the Moxee, twelve hundred acres of it being under cultivation. One hundred and eighty acres of the tract is planted to hops and the remainder is in hay, grain and pasture. Mr. Ker is thus very extensively identified with agricultural interests in the valley and displays marked enterprise and notable progressiveness in the conduct of the business interests under his care. In 1892 upon his own place he erected a fine residence and also built large barns and has a most modern equipment. In 1893 Mr. Ker was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Wheeler, a native of North Carolina and a daughter of Junius Beal Wheeler, military instructor at West Point. Her death occurred April 5, 1915. The only child of that marriage was a son, John, who died in 1900. In the year 1898 Mr. Ker went to Alaska and returned in 1900, after spending two winters in the far north. He is now a member of the Sour Doughs, an organization formed of people who have been residents of Alaska. He also belongs to Yakima Lodge No. 318, B. P. O. E., and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. Alert and energetic, wide-awake to every opportunity offered in the business world along the line in which he engages, he has so directed his efforts and energies that success in substantial measure is now his and he is ranked with the leading business men of his section. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.