The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 1095 

THEODORE S. DARBY.

Theodore S. Darby, who now resides on his valuable fruit ranch in the Parker
Heights orchard tract, is one of the most successful orchardists of his
district. Until 1918 he resided in Yakima but in order to better supervise his
important interests has now taken up his residence on his ranch, where he and
his brother planted the first trees. The property is largely devoted to the
raising of apples but one-half of the orchard has pears as fillers, while a part
is seeded to alfalfa. It is under the Union Gap ditch and through irrigation has
become very valuable. Mr. Darby has built his own packing sheds and other
necessary buildings in order to promote his business interests.

A native of Cortland, New York, Theodore S. Darby was born March 12, 1854, of
the marriage of Edwin and Helen (Short) Darby, the former a native of Cortland,
New York, and the latter of Hooter, that state. The grandfather of our subject,
Joseph Darby, was born in England and after crossing the Atlantic first settled
in Connecticut, but later took up his residence in New York. He followed
farming, as did the father of our subject. The latter became a resident of
Maryland and about 1883 removed to Missouri, where both he and his wife passed
away.

Theodore S. Darby received a public school education in New York state and
Maryland. He continued on the home place after laying aside his textbooks, until
the age of twenty-three years, when he started upon his independent career and
for fifteen years was an employee in a wagon factory. Removing to Missouri, he
acquired land in that state. which he farmed for eight years, but at the end of
that period came to Yakima county in September, 1902. Here he and his brother,
Arthur T. Darby, bought land in the Wide Hollow district, which was devoted to
orchard and to alfalfa, but this property they sold in 1905, our subject then
acquired a ten acre orchard in Fruitvale, which he sold two and a half years
later, and in 1907 he and three brothers, Arthur T., E. F. and E. H. Darby,
bought forty-three acres in the Parker Heights orchard tracts, No. 2, which at
that time was all covered with sagebrush. They planted the first trees here and
now the entire tract is in orchards, the principal crop being apples. One-half
of the land has pears as fillers and part of it is seeded to alfalfa. They built
their own packing plant and the orchard is now in full bearing, guaranteeing
them a large profit annually. The land is under the Union Gap ditch and all
under irrigation. Mr. Darby lived in Yakima until 1918 but in that year moved
upon his ranch. He is now considered one of the most progressive 
and up-to-date orchardists of his neighborhood and is a member of the
Horticultural Union, being thoroughly in accord with the purposes of that
organization. His brother, Arthur T. is now a fruit grower in the neighborhood
of the fairgrounds in Yakima, while E. H. resides on the ranch with our subject.
He is married and has two sons, E. F. Darby, the other brother, has passed away.
Each of the living brothers owns an individual tract but they operate the land
together.

On May 30, 1898. Theodore S. Darby was united in marriage to Della (Dudley)
Trussell, who was born in Clinton county, Missouri, a daughter of William and
Jane (Hockenberry) Dudley, the former yet a resident of Missouri but the latter
deceased. Mrs. Darby had a daughter by her former marriage, Vida Trussell, who
makes her home with her stepfather. To Mr. and Mrs. Darby were born a son and a
daughter: Edwin, at home; and Louise, a student in the high school. Mrs. Darby
passed away January 22, 1918, her demise not only being a great shock to her
immediate family but to the many friends whom she had made in this neighborhood.

In his political affiliation Mr. Darby is a republican, inclined toward the
progressive wing of that party, and for two years he served as a director of
Union Gap ditch, being deeply interested in the subject of irrigation, which he
recognizes as of the greatest importance in regard to the horticultural
development of the district. He has served for two terms on the school board in
Fruitvale, the cause of education ever finding in him a warm champion. In fact
he has ever been interested in movements which have for their purpose
intellectual and moral upbuilding as well as material development, he is the
manager of the fruit ranch upon which he now resides and in the administration
of his affairs he has not only gained prosperity for himself but is an important
force in horticultural development here, thus contributing toward general
prosperity and 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.