The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 1099 

JOSEPH SLAVIN.

Joseph Slavin is identified with general agricultural interests on the Ahtanum.
He was born in Winona county, Minnesota, April 11, 1868, a son of Andrew and Ann
(Duncan) Slavin, Both of whom were natives of Ireland. They came to the United
States when young people and cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers of
Minnesota, where for many years the father carried on farming. He died in that
state and the mother afterward passed away at the home of a son in Yakima
county.

Spending his youthful clays under the parental roof in Winona county,
Minnesota, Joseph Slavin there acquired a public school education and was thus
qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. He came to Yakima county
on the 11th of December, 1885, and thus for more than a third of a century has
lived in the northwest. For four years after his arrival he worked for wages,
but he was desirous of engaging in business on his own account and therefore he
practiced strict economy and unfaltering industry in order to gain a start. In
1896 he felt that his savings justified his purchase of land and he and his
brother invested in ranch property. A decade later, or in 1900, Joseph Slavin
bought one hundred and sixty acres of land on the Ahtanum and has, built thereon
a fine residence, large barns and other buildings necessary for the shelter of
grain and stock. In fact the equipment of his place is thoroughly modern and the
entire farm indicates his progressive spirit and unfaltering industry. He
devotes his land to the raising of hay and grain and also to the production of
hops, having large hop vineyards. He likewise has six acres planted to orchards,
which are now in excellent bearing condition, and he carries on a dairy
business. He is regarded as one of the leading farmers of the district in which
he makes his home.

Mr. Slavin is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic church and his political
endorsement is given to the democratic party, which he has supported at all
national elections since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. In
local affairs, however, he casts an independent ballot nor has he ever been
ambitious to hold office. On the contrary, he has preferred to give his
undivided time and attention to his business affairs, which have been
intelligently directed and have brought to him a most gratifying measure of
prosperity.

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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.