The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 787 BRUCE WEES. Bruce Wees, of Wapato, came from one fruit-growing section of the country to become identified with the horticultural interests of another section, now owning valuable fruit land in Yakima County. He was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, December 14, 1870, a son of William and Isabel (Randall) Wees, both of whom were natives of Glasgow, Scotland. They crossed the Atlantic to Canada with their respective parents in their childhood clays and were married in that country. At a later period they became residents of the United States, settling in Michigan, where they spent their remaining, days and where the father, in support of his family, followed the occupation of farming. Bruce Wees, reared cinder the parental roof, pursued his education in public schools of Michigan and, as indicated, was reared in a fruit raising district. On attaining his majority he became a fruit buyer for F. Newhall & Sons of Chicago, whom he thus represented for many years. He was naturally attracted by the reports concerning the opportunities for fruit raising in the northwest and at length he determined to try his fortune in this section of the country. In 1900, accordingly, he arrived in the Yakima valley, first for the purpose of buying fruit, and he continued to visit this section every fall in order to buy fruit until 1907, when he took up his abode here, purchasing twenty-two acres of land on Parker Heights. At that time the tract was covered with its native growth of sagebrush, but with characteristic energy he cleared away the brush, plowed the land and brought it under a high state of development. He used his ranch for fruit raising and in 1917 he extended the boundaries of his place by an additional purchase of ten acres adjoining. The entire tract of thirty-two acres is in orchards, mainly pears and peaches, and his trees are in excellent condition. He utilizes the most progressive and systematic manner of spraying and caring for his trees and in harvesting his crops. His orchards are an attractive feature of the landscape and his annual shipments of fruit are extensive. He has built a fine home upon his ranch and also has a good tenant house there. He has likewise put up substantial barns and in fact has added all the latest improved machinery to facilitate the ranch work. In his fraternal relations Mr. Wees is a Mason, having taken the degrees of the lodge, he then advanced through the degrees of Royal Arch Masonry and eventually became a Knight Templar of Yakima Commandery No. 13. He has likewise crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of Afifi Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Tacoma. He belongs to the Yakima Commercial Club and is interested in every plan and project put forth by that organization for the benefit and upbuilding of the district. In politics he maintains an independent course nor has he ever sought or desired office. He is not remiss in the duties of citizenship but prefers that his public service shall be done in a private capacity and his support of public interests is moral rather than political. He has made for himself a place as a successful rancher of the district and he commands the confidence and respect of all by reason of an upright life as well as by the success which he has attained through persistent, energetic and diligent effort. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.