The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 211 JOHN L. WILLETT. John L. Willett has the reputation of being a successful educator and an equally successful horticulturist. The qualities which make for advancement in both lines are his and, actuated by a laudable ambition, he has steadily progressed. A native of Appanoose county, Iowa, he was born near Centerville on the 7th of September, 1877, a son of James M. and Mary A. (Roundy) Willett. The father, a native of Virginia, was a son of William Willett, who became a pioneer settler of Iowa. The mother of John I. Willett was born in Illinois, being a daughter of John Roundy, who took up his abode in that state when it was upon the western frontier and afterward removed to Iowa when it was still a pioneer district. The parents of John L. Willett were married in Iowa and the mother is living at Moulton, that state, but the father has passed away. In the year 1902 John L. Willett came to Washington. He had previously taught school for two years in Iowa and after reaching this state he attended a normal school and subsequently taught for five years. He was at one time principal of the Summit View school of Yakima and did splendid work in the educational field. For a few years thereafter he gave his attention to ranching and subsequently was called to the position of deputy sheriff, in which capacity he served for two years. He then returned to the ranch and is today the owner of twenty acres located three miles west of Yakima. Of this five acres is in orchard, producing as fine apples as can be raised in this section of the country. He has fifteen acres of his land in corn and alfalfa. He took the first prize in corn sweepstakes at the county fair in 1917, also the third prize and won honorable mention. His efforts along horticultural lines have been further extended in that he rents ten acres of orchard land devoted to pears and apples. Thoroughly familiar with all that has to do with the propagation of fruit in this locality, his labors have produced excellent results and he is now conducting a profitable business. On the 21st of June, 1905, Mr. Willett was married to Miss Carrie E. Morgan, a daughter of Robert S. Morgan, and they have one child, James Hamilton, who was born July 27, 1915. In his political views Mr. Willett is a democrat. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church and take an active interest in its work and in all that pertains to the upbuilding and progress of the community in which they make their home. They have gained many warm friends during the period of their residence in the northwest and Mr. Willett has won a most creditable position in the regard of his fellow townsmen by reason of the ability he has displayed in educational lines and as an agriculturist and horticulturist. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.