The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 916 

LEO F. SAINSBURY.

Leo F. Sainsbury, manager of the Fruit Growers' Agency of Yakima, was born in
Lamoille, Minnesota, December 9, 1882, a son of George and Margaret Sainsbury.
The father has been agent for the Milwaukee Railroad Company since 1872 and is
also the owner of a fine farm. The son acquired a public school education and
then took up railway work in connection with his father, being thus employed
until 1898, after which he devoted his attention to telegraphy until 1905. In
May of that year he carne to Spokane and soon afterward accepted a position as
telegraph operator in Idaho. Later he was located at Lind, Washington, as
operator and occupied a similar position at other points. He was with the
Northern Pacific Railway Company at various places, including Pasco and
Toppenish. In August, 1910, he came to Yakima as agent for the Northern Pacific
and so continued until June 30, 1917, when he became manager for the Yakima
Valley Traffic & Credit Association, which was established in July of that year
as successor to the Yakima Traffic Association. The organization was formed as
an association of fruit shippers to promote and benefit their shipping
interests. They now handle claims and messenger service, which is the sending of
men with cars of fruit to the east. They sent over one thousand cars of produce
east with special messengers in 1917. These men look after the refrigeration
and general care of the shipments. The association is a service company for the
benefit of the shippers and during 1917 handled one thousand and seven cars in
ninety-four trains. They take charge of about seventy per cent of the shipping
in the valley under messenger service. The membership includes eighteen of the
largest shipping concerns in the valley and has charge of eighty-five per cent
of the tonnage of the valley. The general offices are located in the building of
the Yakima Valley, Transportation Company. The officers are: J. M. Perry,
president; Fred Eberle, vice president; C. R. McKee, treasurer; Lloyd Garretson,
P. F. Clarke and W. J. Hayes, trustees. Mr. Sainsbury continued as manager until
1918 and did splendid work in getting the people in the same line of business
to work together and thus greatly promote the interests of each. In the same
office is found the Fruit Growers' Agency. This was organized in Walla Walla and
includes a membership that is drawn from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana.
This is an organization for the promotion of the general development of the
fruit growing industry. The agency is now putting forth efforts to secure a
general government inspection of shipments at the time they are loaded. In 1918,
severing his connection as manager with the Yakima Valley Traffic & Credit
Association, Leo F. Sainsbury became general manager for the agency and so
continues. His former experience is proving of the greatest value in this
connection and his efforts are productive of splendid results.

On the 28th of October, 1908, Mr. Sainsbury was united in marriage to Miss Olive
S. Brace, of Athena, Oregon, and they have one son, George Forrest. Mr.
Sainsbury belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and also to the
Yakima Commercial Club. He is interested in everything that has to do with the
progress and upbuilding of the section in which he lives and his labors have
been an effective force in advancing the interests of a large part of the
population in this section. he displays marked initiative and his well
formulated plans have produced excellent results.

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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.