E.L. MATLOCK. – This successful merchant and respected citizen of Heppner, Oregon, was born August 25, 1844. He came to Oregon in 1853, and located in Lane county, near Eugene. There he engaged in farming, stock-raising and mining. He was with his father when he died at Bannack City in 1863, and laid to rest all that was mortal of that good man and beloved parent. Returning to the home near Eugene, he conducted his father’s affairs there until 1866. In January of that year he was married to Miss E.J. Bennet of Lane county. After that event he engaged in agriculture, conducting a farm for himself until 1869. In that year he engaged in sheep husbandry, and follow3ed the business in Lane county until, in1872, he decided that he might find better pasturage in the Inland Empire, and consequently drove his flocks across the Cascade Mountains, choosing a location near Weston, in Umatilla county. The following winter he lost all his stock by the severity of the season.
In the fall of 1873 he located a claim on Butter creek, and made a new attempt in the sheep business, meeting with good success, and conducting his operations until, in 1878, he was able to close out to good advantage and return to Lane county. He then entered into partnership with his brother, J.W. Matlock, in the general merchandise business at Goshen. Not being wholly satisfied, however, with the slow Willamette valley country, and still looking with fondness to the East-of-the-Mountains district, he returned in 1880 to Eastern Oregon, locating at Heppner, and establishing a business for himself. He has been residing there till the present time, doing an extensive trade, and building up the country. He was elected councilman of Heppner in March, 1889, and has filled that office to the satisfaction of all. He lives in a home of comfort and refinement, and has five girls and one boy, – Flora, S.J., M.A., May, Lesley, Minnie and Bertha.
Mr. Matlock is a man well respected, active, progressive and upright. He is of great service to the new region in which he lives, and as merchant and owner of a band of some two hundred fine horses has a handsome property.