The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 710 

MICHAEL A. O'LOUGHLIN.

Michael A. O'Loughlin has the distinction of being the pioneer merchant of Moxee
City. He opened the first store in the town, placing a stock of hardware on
sale, and since that time he has figured prominently in connection with the
commercial interests of the place. Mr. O'Loughlin is a native of Ireland, his
birth having occurred in County Clare in February, 1852. His parents, Michael
and Margaret (Maroney) O'Loughlin, coming to America in 1867, established their
home in Wright county, Minnesota, where the father purchased land and thereafter
devoted his attention to farming, but was only permitted to enjoy his new home
for three years when death claimed him. The family afterward settled near Fort
Snelling, not far from St. Paul, Minnesota, and subsequently became residents of
Rosetown, Minnesota. At a subsequent period they returned to the old homestead
in Wright county and there the mother passed away in the year 1897.

Michael O'Loughlin, assuming charge of the old farm, cleared and developed it,
transforming it into a valuable property which he afterward sold for the highest
price paid for any land in the county up to the year 1910, which was the year in
which he disposed of it. He had added to it many modern improvements and
equipment and the eighty-acre tract was indeed a valuable and desirable one.
On disposing of his landed interests in the Mississippi valley Mr. O'Loughlin
came to the northwest, arriving in Yakima county in 1910. Moxee City had just
been founded and he purchased two lots, upon which he erected a store building
and opened a stock of hardware, thus establishing the first mercantile
enterprise of the town. He has added a stock of farm implements and has since
conducted an excellent business, having a large trade. He likewise has a service
station for gasoline and oil and he also handles Goodyear tires. In his
hardware and farm implement line he handles the best grade of goods obtainable
and he has become very widely known as a most progressive, alert, enterprising
and thoroughly reliable merchant.

Mr. O'Loughlin is a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic church of Moxee City and
votes with the republican party. He is well known in his community, where he has
long resided, and his worth as a man and citizen is widely acknowledged.

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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.