The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 420 ASA VAN VLECK. Asa Van Vleck, who is engaged in the cultivation of eighty acres of land on Naches Heights, has always lived in the northwest and is actuated by the spirit of enterprise and progress which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of this section of the country. He was born in Bear Lake county, Idaho, January 13, 1893, and is therefore a young man, but the success he has already achieved indicates that his future career will be well worth watching. His parents were Thomas and Agnes (Hards) Van Vleck, both of whom were natives of England. The mother's birth occurred in Kent, England, while the father was born in South Staffordshire. Thomas Van Vleck came to the northwest in 1884, taking up his abode in Idaho, in which state he wedded Agnes Hards. The latter was a daughter of George Hards, who arrived in Yakima county in the early '70s, after residing for a time in Idaho. He was a florist and continued to reside in Yakima to the time of his death, which occurred in 1918. He was one of the real pioneers of the valley and contributed in no small measure to its development and improvement. Charles Simpson, an uncle of Asa Van Vleck, was also one of the worthy pioneers of Yakima county. His father, Thomas Van Vleck, removed from Idaho to .Alberta, Canada, in 1900 and there took up a homestead. His death occurred on the 20th of August, 1911. His widow is still living in Alberta. Asa Van Vleck accompanied his parents to Canada, acquired a public school education there and afterward engaged in farming with his father until December, 1915, when he purchased thirty acres of land near Harwood, Washington. He owned and developed that property until 1918, when he and his brother Amos purchased eighty acres of land on Naches Heights. Of this they have sixty acres under cultivation, devoted to the raising of hay and potatoes. They annually gather large crops and their efforts are greatly enhancing the fertility of the soil and the value of the place. On the 12th of October, 1918, Mr. Van Vleck was married to Miss Annie Curnock, of Vancouver, British Columbia, a daughter of Dudley Curnock. Politically Mr. Van Vleck is a republican and is interested in matters of general concern but has never been an aspirant for office. He concentrates his efforts and energies upon his business affairs and has reached a most creditable position for one of his years. He works steadily and persistently nor is he afraid of hard labor. On the contrary, he recognizes the truth of the old Greek adage. "Earn thy reward; the gods give nought to sloth," and he is putting forth every effort to make for himself a creditable name and place as one of the ranchmen of the Yakima valley. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.