The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 411

OTTO LAWRENCE ARPKE.

A fine orchard of fifteen acres about two miles southeast of Zillah is the
property of Otto Lawrence Arpke, who today receives a gratifying income from
his place and is numbered among the prosperous orchardists of his district. A
native of Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, he was born January 4, 1864, of the
marriage of F. C. and Sophia Arpke, pioneers of Wisconsin, to which they were
taken as children. In that state F. C. Arpke built the first flour mill and also
the first sawmill in Franklin, being thus connected with the early development
of the town. Both he and his wife have now passed away.
Otto Lawrence Arpke was reared under the parental roof and in the acquirement
of his education attended the common schools and subsequently was a student at
Mission House College. After laying aside his textbooks he assisted his father
but at the age of twenty-five he and his brother bought the mills from their
father and continued to operate them for ten years. At the end of that period
Mr. Arpke of this review sold out to his brother, and having heard many
favorable reports in regard to the fruit raising possibilities in Yakima county,
came to this district in 1906 and acquired title to twenty acres of land two
miles southeast of Zillah. Fifteen acres of this tract are now in orchard,
largely devoted to the raising of apples and pears, while the balance is in
alfalfa. Mr. Arpke raises a high grade of fruit and has closely studied the
methods that are applicable to local conditions. He has erected a handsome home
and suitable outbuildings and instituted modern equipment, thus demonstrating
that he is an up-to-date orchardist. His energy and industry have been rewarded
with an enterprise, from which he now receives a comfortable competence.

On April 2, 1891, Mr. Arpke was united in marriage to Miss Clara Lienkaemper, a
native of Wisconsin, and to this union three children have been born: Sophia,
Gertrude and Albert. In his political affiliation Mr. Arpke is a republican and
has ever staunchly supported the principles and candidates of that party. He is
not, however, a politician nor desirous of office, although he keeps well
informed in regard to the issues of the day. On the contrary he gives his entire
attention to his private interests, in the upbuilding of which he has been very
successful. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian church, in the
work of which they are helpfully interested, and in every way have proven
themselves to be estimable people. They have many friends in Zillah and vicinity
and all who know them speak of them in terms of praise.

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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.