The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 838 

GEORGE PRIOR.

An active business life, intelligently directed, brought George Prior to a
position among the most prominent sheep men of the Yakima valley. His life
record is the story of earnest effort resulting in steady progression. He was
born in Sawtry, England, August 11, 1850, a son of Robert and Charlotte
(Holmes) Prior, both of whom have now passed away. The father was a farmer and
stock raiser. His parents were of the Quaker faith and the family is a very old
one in England.

In the public schools of his native country George Prior acquired his education
and in 1875 he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, establishing his house in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1882, being there engaged in
dealing in horses. He afterward gent to Kingston, Missouri, where he took out
his citizenship papers. In Missouri he owned a stock ranch, buying and selling
fine horses. He introduced the first Clydesdale stallion into that section of
Missouri.

The northwest with its growing opportunities attracted him, however, and in 1894
he made his way to Goldendale, Washington, whence he removed to Yakima in 1896.
Here he entered the sheep business, being associated with D. G. Goodman for a
few years, but about 1902 he started in the business on his own account, raising
sheep on the shares in connection with Mr. Goodman. Later he bought the interest
of Mr. Goodman and purchased a large number of fine Hampshire and Lincoln sheep,
these being full blooded. He introduced the first full blooded Hampshire sheep
into Yakima county. He built up the business until he and his sons now have over
twenty thousand head of sheep and they own a large ranch which is devoted to the
raising of hay. They lease fifty sections or more of land for grazing purposes
and have become prominent among the sheep raisers of this section of the
country.

Mr. Prior was united in marriage to Miss Mary Sinclair Menzies, a native of
Scotland and a daughter of Archie Menzies of that country. The children born of
this marriage are as follows: Dr. Robert Prior, Elizabeth, Archie and
Clementine. In 1912 Mr. Prior took his wife and two daughters on a visit to
England, sailing on the Lusitania, and two years later his wife's sister was
drowned while a passenger on the same ship, being a victim of that German kultur
which permits the murder of women and children.

The family attend the Presbyterian church. Mr. Prior gives his political
allegiance to the republican party but has never been an office seeker,
concentrating his efforts and attention upon his business affairs. He is a
member of the Commercial Club and also of the Country Club and is recognized as
a leading and influential citizen of Yakima, where he has many friends.

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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.