The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 356 JACOB PELTO. Although Jacob Pelto is a recent arrival among the horticulturists of Yakima county he has already demonstrated his ability along that line, now owning twenty acres on the Tieton, all of which is in orchard. For many years he was successfully engaged in farming in Minnesota, but the land of his birth is Finland. He was born June 10, 1862, and is a son of Olaf and Margaret Susan Pelto, who came to the United States in 1881, and continued to make their home with our subject in Minnesota until called to the home beyond. Jacob Pelto was reared under the parental roof in his native country and there attended school in the acquirement of his education. When a young men of nineteen, in 1881, he came to the United States and for two years remained in Michigan, whence he went to Lead City, South Dakota, in 1883. In 1887 he made his way to Minnesota and there he bought a farm in Ottertail county but spent a year in the Black Hills before he took up farming in Minnesota. In 1913 he came to Yakima county, Washington, and bought ten acres of land which is now all planted to apples. As his means increased he added ten acres to his tract and this is also devoted to orchard. He has erected suitable barns and has built a fine farm residence, adding other improvements and equipment, so that his property today is very valuable. In 1892 Mr. Pelto was united in marriage to Miss Hilma Blomberg, also a native of Finland, who came to the United States when a little maiden of nine years with her parents, Henry and Matilda Blomberg. Her father is now deceased but her mother survives. Mrs. Pelto has a brother, A. E. Blomberg, who was born in Minnesota, February 21, 1886, the parents having emigrated from Finland to Michigan in 1881, and removed to Minnesota in 1883. A. E. Blomberg was engaged in farming in Minnesota until June, 1918, in which year he came to Yakima county, acquiring ten acres of orchard on the Tieton. To Mr. and Mrs. Pelto four children have been born, Sadie, Esther, Walter and Ethel. The family are members of the Presbyterian church, to which they are sincerely devoted, and in politics Mr. Pelto is a republican. He is a successful orchardist who has not only promoted his own prosperity by following progressive methods but has contributed to general prosperity through his activities. Mr. Pelto has never regretted leaving his fatherland, for in this country he has found the opportunities which made it possible for him to win a degree of prosperity that is most satisfying. He has become thoroughly Americanized and American ideals are his standards. As a loyal and devoted citizen who is ever ready to give of his time, effort and means in order to promote the general welfare, he expresses his gratitude to his adopted country. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.