Hiram F. "Okanogan" Smith, the father of the commercial apple industry in Washington State, made his home here in Oroville. A true innovator, he originally worked in the newspaper world, type-setting and later working with the likes of Horace Greeley. Intrigued by the possibilities of the 1849 gold rush, he followed the "Go west, young man, go west" manifest destiny slogan and tried his hand at mining in California, later traveling to the Oregon Territory and into Canada. On the banks of Lake Osoyoos he ran a trading post, freighted mail, started the first apple orchard, and raised other soft fruit and vegetables as well. An entrepreneur, he had a hand in many early businesses, continued to be involved in mining, early electrical power ventures and other commercial interests. He became a territorial and later a state legislator.
Harvest Apple Producer Is Six Feet in Circumference
Oroville, Wash., Sept. 26 - Oroville claims it has not only the oldest and largest apple tree in the state, but one that can still bear the largest quantity of fruit.
The tree is a harvest apple tree, six feet in circumference and it yielded a ton and a half of marketable apples this season.
The tree was planted by "Okanogan Smith" more than 40 years ago.
Wenatchee World, September 26, 1910