The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 120

WILLIAM THRUSH.

The efforts of William Thrush along orcharding and general agriculture in the
Yakima valley have been exceedingly satisfactory and he now owns valuable
property near Granger, six acres of which are in orchard, while the rest is
devoted to hay, corn and potatoes. He also conducts a small dairy and derives
from this a gratifying addition to his income. A native of Nebraska, he was born
in Dodge county, June 8, 1861, and is a son of Charles and Martha (Reese)
Thrush, the former a native of England and the latter of Wales. Shortly after
their marriage which was performed in England, they came to the United States
and a few years later, in 18.6, went to Omaha, Nebraska, which city at that time
consisted of two log shanties. For one year they remained in the wilderness on
the Missouri but subsequently they removed to Florence, Nebraska, where Charles
Thrush built the first house. In 1858 they proceeded on their westward course,
starting for Salt Lake City, Utah, but stopped at Genoa, Nebraska, where they
remained for a short time. They then went to Dodge county of which they became
pioneers, as in those days Indians and buffaloes were still plentiful. There the
father not only became a prominent rancher but also prospered in the freighting
business. He took up a homestead and in addition bought land from the Union
Pacific Railway Company, to the cultivation of which property he devoted the
remainder of his days, both he and his wife dying in that county. Mr. Thrush was
a minister in the Church of Latter-day Saints but never devoted his whole time
to that work.

William Thrush of this review grew up on his father's place in Dodge county,
Nebraska, amid the conditions of the western frontier. Many were the privations
which the family underwent but in the school of hardship he developed a strong
and good character. He early became acquainted with agricultural methods and in
the acquirement of his education attended the public schools of his
neighborhood, continuing with his father until he was twenty-five years of age.
At that time he rented land and engaged in its cultivation until he came to the
Yakima valley in 1903, having heard many favorable reports in regard to this
district. He acquired title to twenty acres of land two miles north of Granger,
which was seeded to alfalfa.

He has since greatly developed this property, has erected thereon a comfortable
residence and has given considerable attention to fruit raising, now having a
profitable orchard of six acres, while the remainder of his land is devoted to
hay, corn and potatoes. Live stock interests are also represented in his
interests, as he conducts a small dairy.

On the 26th of March, 1902, Mr. Thrush was married to Miss Harriet Moore, a
native of Nebraska and a daughter of J. P. and Ida L. (Fox) Moore, natives of
Indiana, who during pioneer days settled in Nebraska. Mrs. Moore has passed away
but her husband survives and is still a resident of that state. To Mr. and Mrs.
Thrush have been born a son and a daughter: William P., and Hazel June, who are
attending high school. The latter is quite proficient in music and with her
talent often delights the friends of the family.

Mr. and Mrs. Thrush have made many friends since coming to Granger and all who
know them speak highly of them. He has given his aid and co-operation to
measures of public importance which he considers worth while and is in every way
a public-spirited citizen and a valuable addition to his district. In politics
he is independent, following his own judgment rather than party lines. He is a
valued member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.