Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.

     WILLIAM B. PATON, an enterprising and successful fruit grower, near Mission, Chelan county, is a "westerner," having been born in Minnesota, January 4, 1866. His father James C. Paton, is a native of Glasgow, Scotland. He emigrated to this country at the age of nine years, and is now living on a farm two miles west of Mission. The mother, Anna (Johnson) Paton, was born in Vermont, the daughter of W. B. Johnson, a member of a family that settled in New England at an early day.
     Coming west at a youthful period of his life, our subject was reared and educated in Dakota, (now North Dakota). Subsequently he learned the trade of a carpenter, worked on his father's farm until gaining his majority, and then began the world's work on his own account. In 1894 he came to Mission, purchased twelve acres of land and set out an orchard. In 1896 he set up the first sawmill and box-factory in the county, which he successfully conducted until June, 1902. Since that period he has devoted his entire attention to his farm. Last year he shpped four hundred boxes of apples, besides many berries. He has four brothers living, Grant, Fred, Jay. and James, and three sisters, Esther Spiller, Anna Clark and Ruth, the latter living at home.
     At Caledonia, North Dakota, May 27, 1891, our subject was married to Mazzie E. Wright, a native of Guelph, Canada. Her father and mother, David W. and Catherine (Jones) Wright, are both Canadians and they now live one and a half miles from Mission. Mrs. Paton has one brother, Andrew A., and one sister, Gertrude K., wife of our subject's brother, Fred. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Paton, Fred, aged ten, and Esther, aged nine years. Fraternally, Mr. Paton is a member of the M. W. A., Mission camp, No. 5856, and of the Royal Neighbors. Politically, he is in sympathy with the Democratic party. They are members of the Presbyterian church, at Mission. He is highly esteemed by all with whom he is associated.