The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 621

JOHN W. ELLISON.

John W. Ellison is a well known business man of Thorp, where he is conducting a
grocery and meat market and also engages in the packing and shipping of fruit.
He was born near Thorp, February 10, 1886. a son of John C. and Amy A. (Childs)
Ellison, the former a native of Kansas, while the latter was born in
Pennsylvania. The father came to the Kittitas valley as one of its pioneer
settlers, arriving in the year 1876. The mother came about 1882 with her father,
the trip having been made overland from Nebraska. Mr. Ellison took up a
homestead and purchased other land, upon which he lived to the time of his death
in 1898. His widow survives and now makes her home in Seattle. John C. Ellison
was the owner of four hundred acres of land under cultivation and he also leased
other land, being extensively engaged in farming and stock raising. He was,
moreover, a man of considerable influence in regard to public affairs and served
as county assessor in 1896 and 1897. He did not ally himself with any political
party but maintained an independent attitude and gave his aid and support where
he believed he could further the best interests of the community. He was a
prominent citizen, highly respected for his sterling worth and his loyalty to
duty.

John W. Ellison acquired a public school education, supplemented by study in a
business college at Seattle. Upon the death of his father he took charge of the
home ranch but afterward turned his attention to commercial pursuits, entering
the meat business at Thorp in 1908. He now conducts a large and well appointed
grocery store and meat market, putting forth every effort to please his patrons,
and in addition he also does a fruit buying and packing business. Both branches
of his activity are bringing to hint well deserved success.

On the 7th of February, 1906, Mr. Ellison was united in marriage at Manchester,
Iowa, to Miss Mary Etna Frank, a daughter of L. P. Frank, who removed from
Manchester to Thorn, Washington, the following year. Mr. and Mrs. Ellison have
become parents of one child, Marie.

Mr. Ellison belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and to the Woodmen of the
World, while in politics he has been a democrat since age conferred upon him the
right of franchise. He is a progressive young merchant of his town who hay
readily recognized and improved his opportunities and is today a leader in
commercial circles in Thorp.

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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.