The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 839 

JAMES D. MORRISON.

James D. Morrison has spent practically his entire life in the Pacific
northwest, having been but three years of age when brought to this section of
the country by his parents, A. W, and Alma (Lybyer) Morrison, who were natives
of Illinois and of Indiana respectively. The paternal grandfather, James
Morrison, was one of the pioneers of Illinois. Crossing the Mississippi, the
parents established their home in Missouri, where the father engaged in farming
until 1877. He then sought the opportunities of the growing northwest and
arrived in Polk county, Oregon, after having made an overland trip. In 1880 he
removed to Yakima county and took up government land near Mabton. In 1888 he
established his home on Nob Hill, adjacent to Yakima, and in 1890 removed to
Wide Hollow, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. He then
turned his attention to the live stock business and hop raising and was thus
engaged in Wide Hollow until 1911, when he retired from active business, selling
his farm, and has since made his home in Yakima, enjoying a rest which he has
truly earned and richly merits. His wife passed away in 1902. Then became the
parents of five children: James D., of this review; Gertrude, the wife of V. H.
Robinson. a resident of Vancouver, Washington; Roy, deceased; Edith, who married
D. D. Stair, of Seattle: and Jessie, the wife of Jack Clayton, also a resident
of Seattle.

James D. Morrison was born in Bates county, Missouri, February 12, 1874, and was
therefore but three years of age when the family arrived in Oregon. He acquired
a public school education and was reared to ranch life, early becoming familiar
with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. In 1900 he
purchased sixteen acres in Wide Hollow and developed a ranch, which he sold in
1913. He then purchased ninety-two acres on the Ahtanum and has a good house,
substantial barns and other modern improvements upon his place, which indicate
his progressive spirit. He raises beef cattle and is also engaged in the
cultivation of hay and grain, annually harvesting good crops.

On the 29th of October, 1904, Mr. Morrison was married to Miss Gertrude
Mockton, a native of Worcester, Massachusetts, and to them was born a son,
Allen Frank, on the 5th of March, 1906. On September 5, 1914, Mr. Morrison
married Olive S. McDowell, daughter of John William and Matilda (Mann) McDowell,
the former of whom removed to Oregon in the early days of its history. He was a
successful stock raiser and agriculturist, and passed away in Oregon when
comparatively a young man. In his political views Mr. Morrison is a democrat but
has never been an aspirant for office. His time and attention have been
concentrated upon his business affairs and his energy has brought to him a
success that ranks him with the substantial ranchers of Yakima county, while he
can truly lay claim to the proud American title of self-made man.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.