"An Illustrated History of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas Counties." Interstate
Publishing Co., 1904. p. 610.
 
WILLIAM H. VESSEY

     whose home is situated in North Yakima, is one of the leading stockmen in
central Washington. Born in Portland Oregon, October 13, 1860, he is the son of
two pioneers of the Northwest, John and Ann (Harer) Vessey, of English descent.
John Vessey was born in England and came to America in 1843, settling first in
New York. In 1849 he went to California by way of Cape Horn, and for a year was
busy with pick and shovel in the mines of the new El Dorado. He then came to
Portland and was married. Mr. Vessey continued to follow his trade, that of a
mechanic, and other pursuits in the Willamette valley until 1879, when he moved
to Walla Walla; he died there in 1900. The Harer family came to Oregon from
Arkansas, that state being Ann Harer's birthplace. They came in the emigration
of 1852. While in the Blue mountains, the wearisome journey nearly accomplished
and the promised land almost within sight, father and mother became ill with the
cholera and died after a short sickness, having consecrated their lives to the
spread of civilization into the Northwest. The little orphan girl was cared for
by other emigrants, and subsequently became the wife of Mr. Vessey; she died
November 25, 1880. William H. Vessey received a common school education in
Portland. When only thirteen years old, however, he began to do for himself,
entering the employ of William Humes, in a salmon cannery. After a year's
experience in this work the youth labored on a farm in Washington county until
1876, coming to Walla Walla in the fall of that year and entering the service of
his uncle, caring for stock. A year later he engaged in ranging sheep, learning
the business thoroughly, so that in 1882 he was able to care successfully for
his own herds. Mr. Vessey ranged his herds in Umatilla county until 1889, when
he moved into the lower Yakima valley.  Since that date he has made either Kiona
or Prosser his headquarters. Since coming to Washington Mr. Vessey has entered
into partnership with another Yakima stockman, and together they range from
twelve thousand to fifteen thousand sheep each year.
     Mr. Vessey was married in Walla Walla, 1883, to Miss Mary E. Defreece, the
daughter of James Defreece. Both parents were natives of Missouri, the children
of pioneers; were married in that state and in 1879 crossed the Plains to
Umatilla county, Oregon, settling near Milton. In 1888 Mr. Defreece immigrated
to the Big Bend region, Washington, and lived near Davenport until his death.
Mrs. Vessey was born in Nebraska in 1865 and was educated in the common schools
of Nebraska and Oregon, marrying at the age of eighteen. Their only child,
Estella born in Oregon, July 29, 1884, died April 25, 1893. Mr. Vessey is
fraternally affiliated with the Ette. Mrs. Vessey is connected with the
Episcopal church. Mr. Vessey is prominent in the Republican party, and in 1903
was appointed and confirmed as one of Washington's state fair commissioners, but
declined the honor. The co-partnership in which he is interested has among its
assets sixteen thousand acres of grazing land in Yakima county, a section of
wheat land in cultivation, one hundred and sixty acres irrigated by the
Sunnyside canal, twenty acres in the Ahtanum valley, a quarter-section near
Mabton, considerable city property in North Yakima and Prosser, one hundred head
of horses and seven thousand head of sheep; in all of which he has a
half-interest, giving him an unusually valuable property. His faithful industry
has won him deserved success in business, which, added to his reputation as a
man of high principle and to his personal congeniality, gives him a position of
influence in the Yakima country. Mr. and Mrs. Vessey enjoy the friendship of all
with whom they are associated.

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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in September 2010 by Diana
Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family
mentioned above.