The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 856 WILLIAM McGONAGLE. William McGonagle, who is profitably engaged in raising apples and pears, is a progressive and enterprising business man whose spirit is manifest in the splendid equipment upon his place. Mr. McGonagle was born in Ireland, August 14, 1871, a son of Edward and Eleanor McGonagle, both of whom have passed away. The son spent the days of his minority in his native country, acquiring a public school education there, and was twenty-four years of age when in 1895 he crossed the Atlantic to Boston. He lived on the eastern coast for about three years and then went to San Francisco in 1898. In 1899 he removed to Alaska and for five years was a resident of Dawson and for three years of Fairbanks. He was employed by others during the first year and then obtained property of his own, prospering during the period of his residence in the far north. In 1907, however, he disposed of his interests in that section and returned to the states, taking up his abode in Seattle, where he lived for a year and during that period he also visited Boston. In 1908 Mr. McGonagle came to the Yakima valley and made investment in thirty-two acres of land on Selah Heights. This tract was just in the condition in which it came from the hand of nature, being all covered with sagebrush, and much arduous labor was required to convert it into fine orchard land. Mr. McGonagle, however, planted the tract to apples, with pear fillers, and all the trees are in bearing now. In fact he has one of the finest orchards in this section of the valley. In 1910 he built upon his place a fine modern residence and he has also his own packing plant -- a frostproof stone building that is one of the best in the valley. Most of his orchard is also seeded to alfalfa and he annually gathers a good hay crop. On the 23d of September, 1908, Mr. McGonagle was married to Miss Mary McCarty, a native of Ireland, who went to Alaska in young womanhood. They now have one child, Mary Ellen, who is eight years of age. Their religious faith is indicated by their membership in St. Joseph's Catholic church and Mr. McGonagle is also identified with the Knights of Columbus. He likewise belongs to Yakima Lodge No. 318, B. P. O. E., while his political endorsement is, given to the democratic party. He has become widely and favorably known during the period of his residence in this section of the state and his genuine worth is attested by all, for he stands for that which is progressive in citizenship and for all that makes for the material development and upbuilding of the district. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.