J.M. PRUETT, M.D. – The native-born sons of Oregon who have had the wisdom to prepare themselves for a professional or business career have quite generally shown themselves fully equal to those born and raised elsewhere. The subject of this sketch is one of these. He was born at Salem in 1849, his father being the well-known pioneer J. W. Pruett, who crossed the plains in 1847.
Young James remained with his father until the death of the latter, which occurred in 1866. He then went to California, where he remained for two years, after which he returned to Oregon and began his education, studying at Philomath and completing his course at one of the famous institutes of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1872. Choosing medicine as a profession, he entered the Ohio Medical College, graduating with honor. In 1875 he located at Pendleton, Oregon, and began the practice of his profession with very satisfactory results, being indeed one of the leading physicians of that thriving place.
The Doctor was united in marriage to Miss P. Buckingham, of Benton county, the fruits of such union being three children.