The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 785 
	
WILLIAM M. McGINNIS.

The attractive home of William M. McGinnis is situated six and a half miles
northwest of Ellensburg, in the midst of one hundred and thirteen acres of rich
and productive land which he owns. He has been a permanent resident of Kittitas
county since 1892 and had previously remained for a brief period in the county,
where he arrived in 1889. There have been few idle hours in his life. His record
is one of unfaltering industry and perseverance, leading ultimately to the
attainment of substantial success.

Mr. McGinnis was born in Pike county, Illinois, November 14, 1872, a son of
Joseph and Katherine (Todd) McGinnis, the former a native of Indiana and the
latter of Missouri. They settled in Illinois when young people and after living
in that state for a number of years started for the northwest, arriving in
Ellensburg, Washington, in 1889. The father took up government land south of the
Taneum, but afterward sold that property. He then removed to Yakima, where his
last days were passed, his death occurring in 1910, while his widow survived
until 1913.

Williain M. McGinnis acquired a public school education and in 1889 came with
his parents to Washington but in the same year returned to Illinois, where he
remained until 1892, when he again became a resident of Kittitas county. Here
he worked for wages until 1907, when desiring that his labors should more
directly benefit himself, he rented land, upon which he resided until 1913.
While thus engaged he attained a fair measure of prosperity that enabled him to
purchase two hundred and eighty acres of land. He sold eighty acres of that
tract the same year and subsequently disposed of the remaining two hundred
acres. He then purchased one hundred and thirteen acres six and a half miles
northwest of Ellensburg and upon this place he has a fine home and substantial
barns, together with all the modern improvements and equipments of a model farm
property of the twentieth century. His fields are carefully cultivated in the
production of grain and hay and he also raises horses and cattle. He specializes
in Jersey cattle and conducts a profitable dairy business.

In 1898 Mr. McGinnis was united in marriage to Miss Kate Shields, a native of
Nevada and a daughter of Daniel Shields, who came to the Kittitas valley in
pioneer times. The children of this marriage are Everett, Mervin, Iola, Helen
and Warren. In his political views Mr. McGinnis is a republican, having
continuously supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of
franchise. He is a self-made man and successful farmer whose industry has been
the basis of his growing prosperity. Without friends or influence to aid him, he
has steadily worked his way upward, his labor bringing to him all that he has
possessed or enjoyed, and he is now one of the well-to-do citizens in the
vicinity of Ellensburg.

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