The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 921 

WILLIAM BROWNLIE.

William Brownlie, extensively and successfully engaged in fruit raising and in
ranching near Grandview, came to Yakima county in 1909, after about twenty
years' residence in Illinois and a year spent in New Hampshire following his
arrival in the United States. He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on the 26th of
April, 1860, a son of Thomas and Annie Brownlie, both of whom have passed away.
The father was a farmer and thus provided for the support of his family.

William Brownlie was reared in a district made famous by the songs of Robert
Burns. His education was acquired in public schools of Scotland and in 1888 he
bade adieu to friends and native land and came to the new world. He made his way
first to New Hampshire, where he resided for a short time and then removed to
Dekalb county, Illinois, where he engaged in the butter making business for
about twenty years. In 1909, however, he determined to try his fortune in the
northwest and came to Yakima county, where he purchased forty acres of land in
the vicinity of Grandview. He has twenty-five acres now planted to apples,
peaches, pears and cherries and his orchards are in splendid condition. They are
a thing of rare beauty in springtime when the trees are filled with bloom and a
source of gratifying interest when the fruit hangs heavy on the boughs in the
autumn. The utmost care is put forth in developing the orchards, in enhancing
the productiveness of the soil, in spraying and caring for the trees. The
remainder of his land Mr. Brownlie devotes to the raising of general crops but
makes his orchard interests the most prominent feature of his place. H e has
erected a large packing house, has also built a garage and a beautiful modern
residence, in which he enjoys all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of
life.

On the 5th of February, 1901, Mr. Brownlie was married to Miss Mary Porter a
native of New York, and to them have been born two children, Annie and Ulyssia.
In his political views Mr. Brownlie is a republican but not an office seeker. He
and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and are people of the
highest respectability, enjoying in marked degree the kindly regard and
friendship of those with whom they have been brought in contact. As a business
man Mr. Brownlie ranks high, for his progressive spirit and the substantial
results which accrue from his labors place him with the leading orchardists of
his community.

********************************
Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.