The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 551 RICHARD WACHSMITH. The achievement of the orchardists of the Yakima valley is a story to conjure with. It is difficult to realize when one visits this district and sees its splendid bearing orchards that only two or three decades ago the region was a tract of wild, arid land covered with sagebrush. But the efforts of progressive men, employing scientific methods, have wrought marvelous results and the district has indeed "been made to bloom and blossom as the rose." Richard Wachsmith is among the number who have contributed to this result, for since 1904 he has been identified with the development of the land in this region and is now the owner of fifty-five acres devoted to fruit raising. He was born in Cook county, Illinois, June 30. 1877, a son of August and Frieda Wachsmith, who in 1872 became residents of Cook county, Illinois, where the mother passed away in 1894. Ten years later the father with his two sons, Richard and Gus, came to Yakima county, Washington. In 1907 Richard Wachsmith purchased thirty acres at Parker Heights, near Donald, and in 1918 he acquired an adjoining ten acres. This ranch is set mainly to peach trees, although it contains a small vineyard which has demonstrated that the Yakima valley can grow Muscat and Red Emperor grapes as fine as any produced in California. In 1910 he invested in fifteen acres in Fruitvale. This is largely an apple orchard although cherries, peaches, prunes and pears are also grown. A portion of this land was old orchard set to unprofitable varieties of peaches, apples and cherries, which, by means of grafting, are now, in just a few years, bringing good returns. About forty peach trees are yielding beautiful Tragedy prunes. He is one of the many orchardists who have learned by experience that it is more profitable both to the trees and pocketbook to have his orchards seeded to alfalfa than to clean cultivate them. He has a fine home upon his place, large and commodious barns, the latest improved machinery and everything that is indicative of progressive agricultural life and orcharding in this section of the state. He is indeed one of the prominent representatives of activity of that character and he deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, having started out in the business world empty-handed. His steady progress has resulted from close application, laudable ambition and unfaltering industry and his record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what inay be accomplished. On the 17th of September, 1915, Mr. Wachsmith was united in marriage to Miss Livia C. Thomas, of Yakima, who was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, a daughter of T. Frank and Martha Thomas. They now have four children: Ruth and Helen, twins; Richard Alon; and Livia Alice. Mr. Wachsmith is a stalwart republican in his political views. His wife is a member of the Baptist church and both are people of the highest respectability, enjoying the warm regard of all with whom they have been brought in contact. His has been an active and useful life and he has truly earned the proud American title of a self-made man, his labors resulting in the transformation of arid lands into tine orchards which in blossom time, or when the fruit hangs heavy and ripe upon the trees, present a most beautiful and attractive picture. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.