The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 1063 

WILLIS R. BIRGE.

Important farming interests near Sunnyside claim the attention of Willis R.
Birge, a native of Minnesota. who was born in Rice county, February 9, 1857, a
son of Rodger P. and Isabel (Reed) Birge. The father was born in East Windsor,
Connecticut, while his wife was a native of Pennsylvania. He was numbered among
the honored pioneers of Iowa, whence in 1852 he made his way to Rice county,
Minnesota, where he took up a homestead and there farmed until 1868, returning
at the end of that period to Iowa, where he spent a year. In April, 1869,
removal was made to Seward county, Nebraska, where he arrived while pioneer
conditions still maintained, in fact Buffalo still roamed within thirty-five
miles of his place. That property he improved and operated until the spring of
1889, or for a period of twenty years. Perceiving greater opportunities in the
Pacific northwest, he made up his mind to profit by the chances here offered and
in the summer came to Washington. remaining at that time, however, only a few
months and continuing on to California. Later, however, he returned to this
state, going to Sumner, and there he passed away in 1904, his wife had preceded
him by over a third of a century, her demise occurring in 1867.

Willis R. Birge received his education largely in the public schools of Nebraska
and he also attended Doane College of that state for a year, perceiving the
advantages gained from a thorough educational foundation in order to better
pursue life's arduous duties. After leaving college he decided to follow
farming, remaining with his father until the spring of 1890, when he came to
Washington and for three years lived in Tacoma, while for six years Spokane was
his residence. He was largely engaged in railroading during this period. In
1898, however, Mr. Dirge took up a desert claim four and a half miles southwest
of Sunnyside but in 1900 changed it to a homestead, on which he proved up. Under
the homestead rights he received one hundred and twenty acres but traded eighty
acres of it for one hundred and twenty acres near Mabton, in the Horse Heaven
country. This tract he now rents. The remaining forty acres of the original home
farm are highly developed and there he erected a beautiful modern home in 1910.
He also has good barns and everything about the place indicates his progressive
methods and the energy and industry which he has exercised in making his one of
the model farms of his neighborhood. He has excellent barns and modern
machinery, thus increasing the value of the annual yield. He largely raises
alfalfa and corn.

On the 3d of August, 1903, Mr. Birge was married to Almeda Alexander, a native
of Greenville, Tennessee, through which state Mr. Birge made a most interesting
auto trip. Mrs. Birge is a daughter of James G. and Louise (Wagner) Alexander,
the former a native of Greenville, Tennessee, while the latter was born in
Virginia. Mr. Alexander was of Scotch crescent. His original American ancestor
came to the United States in colonial days and served in the Revolutionary war,
thus assisting in winning independence and liberty for this country. The mother
of Mrs. Birge was of German descent, the family having come to this country
prior to the Revolutionary war, in which conflict some of them participated.
Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have both passed away.

Mr. and Mrs. Birge attend the Presbyterian church, of which the latter is a
devoted member. Fraternally Mr. Birge belongs to the Masons, being connected
with the blue lodge in Sunnyside and also the chapter. In politics he is
independent but gives preference to republican principles and candidates. Mrs.
Birge is also connected with the Masonic order, being a member of the Eastern
Star. Both are very popular in social circles of Sunnyside, where they have many
friends. They are interested in intellectual and moral development and Mr. Birge
is ever ready to give his support to measures which have for their purpose the
upbuilding of his district.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.