The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 224

OSCAR W. MIDDLETON.

Oscar W. Middleton a garage proprietor at Grandview, having the agency for the
Chalmers, Reo, Maxwell and Dodge cars, was born in Beatrice. Nebraska, April 18,
1876, a son of Jesse and Margaret (Murgatroyd) Middleton. The father was born in
Columbus, Ohio, while the mother's birth occurred near Ravine. Wisconsin. They
became pioneer residents of Nebraska and were married in that state. The father
there engaged in farming for a number of years but eventually came with his
family to the northwest, settling at Grandview, Washington, where he purchased a
ranch. This he further improved and developed, residing thereon until he retired
and rented his ranch, while he now makes his home at Grandview. Both he and his
wife are consistent and faithful members of the United Brethren church and their
genuine worth has gained for them the friendly regard of all with whom they have
been brought in contact.

Oscar W. Middleton acquired a public school education attending the high school,
while later he became a student in the Fremont (Neb.) Business College. During
his residence in his native state he served for three years as a member of the
National Guard. He also taught school for a year and afterward engaged in
farming in Nebraska for five years. In 1903 he arrived in Grandview and
purchased twenty acres of land, to which he has since added until he now has
forty-two and a half acres of rich, productive and valuable land upon which he
raises hay, grain and potatoes. He also taught school in this locality in 1904
and 1905 but the greater part of his time and attention has been devoted to his
ranching interests. His land was all covered with sagebrush when it came into
his possession and there were no roads through the district. He assisted in
laying out the first roads and in establishing the schools and as a pioneer
settler has contributed much to the development, progress and upbuilding of the
section in which he lives. He has also greatly improved his ranch and for four
years he was engaged in the dairy business. He now spends the winter months in
Grandview and in April, 1918, he opened a garage which he is now successfully
conducting, having in connection therewith the agency for the Chalmers, Reo,
Maxwell and Dodge cars. His sales have reached a gratifying figure and the
business is steadily growing.

On the 17th of August, 1907, Mr. Middleton was married to Miss Nellie Lewis, a
native of Illinois and a daughter of John W. and Florence (Malone) Lewis, who in
1909 removed to Sunnyside where the father is engaged in ranching. Mr. and Mrs.
Middleton have become the parents of three children: Claude H., Edith J. and
Ruby Joyce.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church and
fraternally Mr. Middleton is connected with the Foresters. In politics he is a
republican, giving stalwart support to the party and its principles. For three
years he acceptably filled the office of drainage supervisor and for six years
he served as deputy assessor for the Grandview district. He is a public-spirited
citizen, ever loyal to any trust reposed in him, and his interest in the welfare
and development of the district in which he lives is manifest in many tangible
and helpful ways.

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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.