The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 27

WILLIAM F. MORGAN.

William F. Morgan, actively and successfully identified with the farming
interests of the Yakima valley, was born in Warrensburg, Missouri, on the 6th of
June, 1871, a son of Robert S. and Minerva (Mason) Morgan. The father was born
in Pennsylvania and at the time of the Civil war responded to the country's
call for troops, enlisting in the Tenth Missouri Infantry, with which he served
from 1861 until 1864, and during that period he was wounded. His wife was born
in Missouri and for a number of years they resided in that state. In the spring
of 1886 they came to the Yakima valley, where Mr. Morgan purchased a homestead
right from "Doc" Morris, securing one hundred and sixty acres of land,
constituting the northwest quarter of section 27. It was all sagebrush and dry
land without irrigation when it came into his possession. With characteristic
energy he began its development and improvement and he was very active in
establishing irrigation in this section of the state. He put in a mile extension
of the Hubbard ditch, covering twelve acres of his land, and thereon he engaged
in gardening. He also followed the carpenter's trade in Yakima and through
carrying on both occupations made a good living. Later the Congdon ditch was
built and all of his farm was thus watered. About 1890 he started a small
orchard, to which he furnished water by a windmill. After the ditch was
completed the orchard was extended, fruit trees being planted which soon came
into bearing and gave another proof of the fact that the soil was admirably
adapted to horticulture. Robert S. Morgan became the pioneer commission man of
Yakima, selling not only his own produce but that of his neighbors and finding a
market for the Yakima produce in the mining districts of the Cascades. He built
the first produce warehouse in Yakima and continued actively in the business to
the time of his death. He also shipped the first alfalfa from the Yakima valley,
sending it to the coast. Mr. Morgan remained an honored, valued and respected
citizen of Yakima until called to his final rest on the 10th of August, 1909. He
is survived by his wife, who yet makes her home on the old home ranch. They had
a family of ten children, nine of whom reached adult age, while eight are
living.

William F. Morgan was the second in order of birth. He acquired a public school
education and was a youth of sixteen years when the family home was established
in the Yakima valley, after which he devoted his time and attention to work upon
the ranch with his father.	

Later he took charge of the ranch in connection with his brother Robert and
afterward he purchased the southwest forty acres of his father's property and
cleared and improved the tract. He has since sold ten acres of this and now owns
thirty acres, of which twenty-two acres is planted to orchard, including apples,
pears and cherries. On the remainder he raises some alfalfa and also
diversified crops. He has had close association with his father in all of his
fruit raising and his broad experience and wide knowledge are of great value to
him in the further conduct of his business.

On the 8th of February, 1894, Mr. Morgan was married to Miss Anna Dunn, a
daughter of Captain Robert Dunn, one of the pioneers of Yakima county, and their
children are: Mabel, who attended Washington State College at Pullman for two
years; and Harold and Ethel, both of whom are now pursuing a college course. Mr.
Morgan is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the family are loyal
members of the First Christian church of Yakima. In politics he is a republican
and has served as road supervisor, while for five years he was one of the school
directors. For almost a third of a century he has resided in the valley,
witnessing the greater part of its development and upbuilding. Associated with
his father he became one of the pioneers in horticulture in this section of the
state. His progressive spirit has led to the attainment of most gratifying
results and a visit to his orchards in bearing season is always one of great
delight.

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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.