The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 595

MELVIN BISHOP.

The spirit of the west -- that intelligence and audacity of original thought and
action -- has been the birth gift of Melvin Bishop, for he is a native of
Oregon, his birth having occurred in Wallowa county, February 18, 1883. He is
now very successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits near Sunnyside,
Washington, where he owns a valuable property. Although he is a comparatively
young man, he has already made his mark in the world and a bright future may be
predicted for him. He is a son of Oliver and Annie (Powers) Bishop, also natives
of Oregon, born in the Willamette valley, and our subject is therefore a member
of one of the pioneer families that have played an important role in the
development of the west. His father is a son of Hiram M. Bishop, who in 18;2
went to Oregon by the overland route, having before that time been a pioneer of
Illinois. Mrs. Annie Bishop was a daughter of W. P. Powers, also one of the
early settlers of Oregon, who removed to that state in 1849. Members of the
family have for many years been engaged in ranching and stock raising and have
been very successful along those lines. The father now lives in Mason county,
Washington, and is prominently known as a live stock raiser and rancher. Mrs.
Bishop passed away in May, 1899.

Melvin Bishop pursued his studies in a log schoolhouse in the neighborhood of
his father's farm and after putting aside his textbooks took up the occupation
of farming, which he followed in the state of Idaho when but sixteen years of
age, there passing his .boyhood and young manhood.	

In 1902 the father and the remainder of the family came to Yakima county, where
Oliver Bishop bought land and improved two ranches near Sunnyside. In 1903 our
subject took up a homestead in Klickitat county, this state, but later sold it.
In 1907 he and his brother Albert acquired title to forte acres three miles
southwest of Sunnyside which was then all wild land covered with sagebrush. He
immediately set himself to the task of bringing this land to a good state of
cultivation and in 1910 acquired his brother's interest. He has since made many
improvements here and his is now considered one of the valuable ranches of the
neighborhood. He has since bought twenty acres one and a quarter miles from the
original farm and this is also highly improved. He raises hay and corn and also
gives considerable attention to live stock, specializing in hogs. Everything
about his place indicates the progressive and up-to-date western farmer and his
industry and energy result in gratifying returns for him.

On the 12th of June, 1910, Mr. Bishop was married to lona Waite, a native of
Lewis county, Washington, and a daughter of M. L. and Serena (Morgan) Waite, who
are numbered among the honored pioneers of Yakima county, where the father is
engaged in farming. To this union have been born two children, Iva and Frances.

Mr. and Mrs. Bishop are very popular with the younger social set of their
neighborhood and often entertain their many friends at their hospitable
fireside. Both are devoted members of the Church of God, in which denomination
they are helpfully interested. Politically he is a republican but has never
desired public honors for himself although he is ready to give his support to
worthy movements undertaken on behalf of the general public.

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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.