The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 982 

ROBERT H. KERSHAW.

Pioneering takes all of a man and all of that man's iron purpose and long
patience, as is evident from the fact that so many who came out to the western
wilds gave up in despair, returning, if luck would have it, to the east in order
to take up their old occupations. Those, however, who had the grit and endurance
to hang on, thereby proved themselves the fittest and that success has come to
them is only the just reward of their efforts made amid surroundings which tried
the best and bravest. Interesting as are the stories of the pioneers to the
present generation, the hardships of those times can only be appreciated by
those who went through with theta and among these is Robert H. Kershaw, a native
of Utah and a western man by spirit and inclination. He was born August 30,
1861, a son of Robert and Mary (Harrison) Kershaw, natives of England, who in
their young lives came to the United States, making their way in the approved
primitive style overland to Utah, where they settled as pioneers. There the
father successfully fanned until 1880 and then came to Yakima county, where he
bought a farm on the Naches, subsequently selling out and removing to
California. Later in his life, however, he returned to Yakima county, but he now
has passed away, as has his wife.

Robert H. Kershaw received a public school education in his native state and
after laying aside his textbooks turned his attention to farming, assisting his
father in such work until 1884, in which year he set out for himself. Until 1887
he worked as a farm hand for others and, carefully saving his earnings, was at
length enabled to buy a ranch on the Wenas. To its further cultivation and
improvement he has since given close attention and, studying the soil and
climate carefully, has brought the land to a high state of productivity. His
farm here comprises two hundred and forty acres and he also has two thousand
acres on the Umptanum, two hundred and fifty acres of which are devoted to
farming purposes, while the rest is range. Mr. Kershaw employs modern ideas in
the operation of his properties and by judicious management has acquired
prosperity. He has modern buildings and up-to-date equipment upon his places and
his annual income from his labors is now adequately compensating him.

On the 3d of April, 1887, Mr. Kershaw was united in marriage to Miss Ella
Taylor, a daughter of Isaac Taylor, a native of Lucas county, Iowa, who came to
Yakima county with his family in 1884. To this union were born eight children:
Edna, who married Jerry Miles, a rancher of Yakima county, who resides near
Granger; Harry, who is interested in and operates his father's large ranch on
the Umptanum and is married and has one child; Ray, who is in the United States
army and who is a partner of his father and brother; Edith, at home; Myrtle, who
married Frank Collis, a rancher on the Wenas; Fred who has been in the United
States army and is now at home; and Gladys and Clarence, at home. The father and
his sons own and operate all their interests together.

Mr. Kershaw is a republican in his political affiliations but has never sought
public office, his important agricultural interests requiring his undivided
attention. However, he has ever been deeply interested in general development
and readily cooperates in the promotion of movements undertaken on behalf of the
general welfare along material, mental and ideal lines. His memory harks back
to the days when primitive conditions still existed here and therefore forms a
connecting link between those days of hardship and self-denial and the present
pleasant days of achievement and enjoyment, reflecting an up-to-date
civilization. Moreover, Mr. Kershaw has not only witnessed this remarkable
change but through his labors has contributed thereto and participated therein.

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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.