The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 59

RUSSELL J. THOMPSON
.
The Naches valley of the Yakima district has made immense forward strides the
last few years, during which the peculiar adaptability of soil and climate
regard to orcharding was discovered. Since that time many valuable orchards in
in have sprung up and many are the enterprising horticulturists who are now
deriving large returns from this line of activity, to which considerable acreage
in the valley is now devoted. It is characteristic of men of the west that they
will always look for the latest methods and best machinery and equipment in
order to further their efforts and this quality has been the outstanding feature
of the prosperity that has come to the Yakima valley in this line of business
activity.

Among these enterprising orchardists is Russell J., Thompson, who was born at
Howard Lake, Minnesota. October 7, 1884. He is a son of W. D. and Mary E.
(Terrell) Thompson, the former born in Nashville, Tennessee, and the latter in
Vienna, Ohio. In the '70s the parents removed to Minnesota, becoming pioneers of
that state, and there the father continued in agricultural pursuits until 1898,
when he came to the Yakima valley, acquiring eighty acres on the upper Naches.
Of this tract he and his sons planted forty-five acres to fruit and as the years
passed the property became very valuable and the family now derives a most
gratifying income therefrom. In 1915 W. D. Thompson retired from active work and
he and his wife removed to California, turning over the land at that time to his
two sons, Russell J. and Leslie J. The father was always a leader in the
districts in which he resided. He was ever ready to embrace new discoveries and
assisted in getting the first telephone system established in this district,
while he also did valuable work in securing rural free delivery routes.
Moreover, he was deeply interested in the good roads movement and his enterprise
is further indicated in the fact that he was one of the first in this section to
own an automobile. He did valuable work in regard to horticultural development
in the Yakima valley, as he successfully established one of the first orchards
planted here.

Russell J. Thompson spent his boyhood days under the parental roof in
Minnesota, where he attended the public schools, and removed with his family to
the Yakima valley when fourteen years of age. After completing his preliminary
education he rounded out his preparation for life's arduous duties at the State
University at Pullman. He then returned to the home farm and assisted his father
in the development of the property, so continuing until the land was divided.
Mr. Thompson now has twenty-one acres of orchard in apples and prunes, has
up-to-date buildings for storing his fruit and has also built a fine home. He is
typical of the progressive western horticulturist and is now in the enjoyment of
a large income.

On June 30, 1915, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Hagerman, a
native of Minnesota and a daughter of John Hagerman, who about 1907 removed to
Yakima county, where he engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have two
daughters: Lucille Mary and Margaret.

In his political affiliations Mr. Thompson is a republican, in the principles of
which party he thoroughly believes. Fraternally he is connected with the Loyal
Order of Moose, while along the line of his occupation he is a member of the
Grange and also of the Yakima County Horticultural Union, thus being in touch
with other men in the same line of business and keeping up-to-date in regard to
the latest methods by an exchange of opinions. Mrs. Thompson is a valued member
of the Christian church, in the work of which both she and her husband helpfully
assist. Mr. Thompson has ever readily co-operated in public movements undertaken
for the general welfare and particularly along lines of fruit raising has
greatly contributed toward the development of horticulture, which promises to
bring to the Yakima valley millions upon millions of dollars.

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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.