History of the Pacific Northwest Oregon and Washington 1889

History of the Pacific Northwest Oregon and Washington. 2 v. Portland, Oregon: North Pacific History Company. 1889.

Biographical Sketch of John S. Elliott

JOHN S. ELLIOTT. – Mr. Elliott, a representative citizen of Eastern Oregon, was born in Virginia in 1836. He received a common-school education, and remained upon his father’s farm until twenty years of age. Developing a desire for life in the Far West, he went to Texas in 1858, and at a town upon the Red river served as a salesman in the store of an uncle who was doing business there. In 1860 he enlarged his operations by taking a stock of goods to Denver, Colorado. In 1862 he crossed the plains to Baker county, Oregon, locating in Powder … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John S. Clark

JOHN S. CLARK. – Much interest attaches to this gentleman as the son of one of the earliest pioneers, and as being himself a native of Oregon. The father, Daniel Clark, was well known in the early days as an immigrant of 1844, who married Miss Bertha Herren, whose acquaintance he had formed upon the plains, and who lived near Hillsboro. After his return from the California gold mines, he located in 1851 the Clark Donation claim near Salem, upon which both he and his wife died. The son John S., whose name forms the caption of this article, was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Q. A. Richardson

JOHN Q.A. RICHARDSON. – This gentleman, the oldest settler within ten miles of his present stock farm of four hundred and seventy acres in The Cove, Oregon, and a veteran of the Indian wars, was born in Illinois in 1839, and in 1851 crossed the plains in company with his parents. the father, Enoch Richardson, became a permanent citizen of Polk county, locating near Perrydale. During the journey on the plains the little party, being among the last of the season, sustained a fifteen hours’ fight with the Snake Indians on Goose creek. In 1856 young Richardson enlisted with Captain … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John M. Newman

JOHN M. NEWMAN. – The gentleman whom we here introduce to the reader, and a view of whose residence is placed in this history, is a native of Sullivan County, Missouri, and was born August 10,1851. While but a lad of thirteen he came to eastern Oregon, and, after a sojourn of a year upon the sage-brush plains, continued the march to the Willamette valley. Some years were there spent in Marion and Benton counties, the most interesting period of his life there being his marriage to Miss Isabel Forgey, a noble woman who has borne him eight children. In … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Kineth

JOHN KINETH. – This pioneer of Oregon and of Whidby Island, Washington, is a native of Bavaria, Germany, and was born in 1828. At the age of ten years he came with his parents to American, and passed his early life in Springfield, Illinois. He there obtained the practical education of the West, and learned as his resource for the livelihood the trade of a harness-maker. As early as 1849 he felt the impulse to go West. Joining a company of emigrants at Springfield, he crossed the plains, arriving at Milwaukee, Oregon, November 3d. Seeing that there was an abundance … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John J. Peebler

JOHN J. PEEBLER. – Mr. Peebler was born in Iowa in 1837, and while but a boy of six years met the irreparable loss of his parents, who died within twenty-four hours of each other. With an uncle, David Peebler, he crossed the plains in 1853, and made his home at Harrisburg, in Linn county, Oregon. During the Indian disturbances of 1855, he went to Umpqua valley and served with the volunteers on Rogue river. He continued his journeys to Yreka, where he mined for eighteen months, returning thereafter to the Umpqua valley. In 1859 he was married to Miss … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John H. Shields

JOHN H. SHIELDS. – The reader of this sketch can find elsewhere within these pages an excellent view of the mill and lumber yard of the gentleman named above, and upon glancing at its proportions will not dispute the assertion that Mr. Shields stands well to the fore among the more prominent of the lumber merchants of the Pacific Northwest. Being attracted with the location of Sprague, Washington Territory, he established himself there in 1882. His business grew to such proportions that in 1885 he found it necessary to add to his equipment a large planing-mill. His enterprise occupies one … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John H. Boyce

JOHN H. BOYCE, – The vicissitudes and characteristic frontier life of this redoubtable miner and freighter are not easily expressed in a few sentences. He was born in Vermont in 1832, and in 1850 came around Cape Horn to California. The succession of his labors thereafter is thus stated; In 1851, he mined on the Stanislaus; in 1852 was freighting with a sixteen-mule team from Stockton to various points; in 1860 was hauling quartz in Nevada; in 1862 came to Elk Creek mines, Eastern Oregon; in 1863 was at Bannack, mining and packing; from 1864 to 1869 was engaged as … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John F. Adams

JOHN F. ADAMS. – We have here the founder of the promising city of Adams, Oregon, which is located on the line of the railroad in Umatilla county. Mr. Adams was born in Franklin county, Maine, in 1835. When twenty-two years of age, he came to Douglas county, Oregon, and for five years engaged in school-teaching. Exchanging the master’s rod for the shepherd’s crook, he went extensively into the sheep business in the Umpqua valley, and in 1865 transferred his flocks to Umatilla county. Here he has lived twenty-three years. Besides the culture of sheep, he has devoted much time … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John E. Jones

JOHN E. JONES. – The second to locate in the beautiful Indian valley was the gentleman of whom we write. He was born in South Wales in 1818, and crossed the Atlantic to America in 1850, removing to Salt Lake in the next year. Removing to Cache valley in 1859, he made some valuable improvements on his place; but, disagreeing with the Mormons, he removed to Soda Springs in 1863. The next year he removed to Deer Lodge valley, Montana, farming until a destructive invasion of grasshoppers. Meantime he has been making butter, which commanded a price of two dollars … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John and William Rynearson

JOHN AND WILLIAM RYNEARSON. – These most fraternal brothers were born in Pennsylvania. They were brought up on a farm and received a common-school education. In 1848 the parents moved to Indiana, where the young men learned the blacksmith trade, and worked at the business in connection with farming until 1865, when they crossed the plains to Oregon, locating in Grande Ronde valley near La Grande, and engaging in farming and stock-raising, – paying twelve and a half cents a pound for seed wheat to commence with. They now own three hundred and eighty acres of fine land, good buildings, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jesse Imbler

JESSE IMBLER. – A native of Kentucky (1842), Mr. Imbler as a boy came west to Iowa, and in 1853 continued the journey to Oregon, being all this while with his father, who made his home near Eugene. Upon the appeal made for soldiers to quell the Rogue river Indians in 1855-56, Jesse then but sixteen, joined his two older brothers at the front, where, on account of his youth, he was assigned to the supply department, and remained with it to the end of the war. Returning home he accompanied his father and brother to The Dalles, and engaged … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jeremiah W. Borst

JEREMIAH W. BORST. – The subject of this sketch was born in Tyoga county, New York, in 1829. At the age of four years, he removed with his father’s family to Indiana, and was reared on a farm. The days of his youth were spent in Missouri, with a return to the Hoosier State. In 1850, he crossed the plains with ox-teams for the gold fields of California, and dug for the precious metal five years. In 1858, he came north to Washington Territory, finding a home on Snoqualmie Prairie, since famous as the location of the great ranch of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jay P. Lucas

JAY P. LUCAS. – This enterprising gentleman, whose early grip on public affairs augurs well for still greater things in the future, in a “native son,” having been born in June, 1856, at Monmouth, Oregon the son of the well-known and able A.W. Lucas. He grew up on a farm, developing his fine physique, and receiving his education at the Christian College in his native town, graduating in 1880. He remained with his parents, having a partial business interest with his father, until 8n 1882 he undertook operations for himself, securing and conducting a farm on his own account. He … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James P. Atwood, M.D.

JAMES P. ATWOOD, M.D. – One of the most successful physicians of Baker City, Oregon, is the gentleman whose name appears as the heading of this sketch. A careful and conscientious gentleman of temperate habits, and thoroughly reliable in all public and professional as well as private matters, he enjoys the confidence of the public, and has a large practice. He was born in Wisconsin in 1846, but was educated in Oregon, at Sublimity and at Corvallis, and took his degree in medicine from the medical department of the Willamette University at Salem, and from the medical department of the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James McCurdy

JAMES McCURDY. – This gentleman, who worthily bears the name of his honored father, Doctor Samuel M. McCurdy, was born at St. Andrews, New Brunswick, in 1840. He was early sent to school, and spent his time to advantage until as a lade of fourteen he began the work of his own maintenance, finding a suitable position in the general merchandise store of Vose & Joyce at Robbinston, Maine. Four years later he engaged as clerk at New York. In 1859, however, he determined to join his father upon the Pacific coast, and reached Port Townsend, Washington Territory, in September … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James J. Imbrie

JAMES J. IMBRIE. – Among those who have sketches of their lives in these pages, there are but few spoken of who, like the subject of this memoir, were “Webfoot” born. He first saw the light of day at his father’s farm on Tualatin Plains, January 29,1852. During his earlier years he learned the rudiments of his education at the log schoolhouse long since a thing of the past. Later on he attended and continued his studies at Pacific University at Forest Grove, and in June, 1877, graduated with high honors from the Willamette University at Salem. Removing to Portland … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James H. Lasater

JAMES H. LASATER. – Mr. Lasater was born on the 19th of October, 1823, in McMinn county, Tennessee. Having reached manhood in his native state, he went to California in 1850. After a short stay there he returned East, taking up his abode in Illinois. While there he devoted himself to the study of the law, and in October, 1853, came to Oregon. Pursuing his law studies, he was admitted to the bar in 1855 at Salem. In the following year he was married to Miss Emily Lendder. In April, 1863, he removed to Walla Walla, Washington Territory; and there … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James B. Crossen

JAMES B. CROSSEN. – Mr. Crossen is the present postmaster at The Dalles, and was born August 11, 1838, at Donegal, Ireland. This was his residence until he emigrated to America in 1849 and made his home with his parents in New York City until of age. In 1859 he crossed the Isthmus to California, and resided at Callaghan’s Ranch for four years, going from thence to Idaho, where he engaged in business at Placerville until 1863. Seeking a new location, he cast his eyes with hope towards the State of Oregon, and selected The Dalles as the most eligible … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James A. A. Wilson

JAMES A.A. WILSON. – Mr. Wilson is one of our characteristic Oregonians of the early times, whose career the pen would willingly linger upon. He was born in Carrol county, Mississippi, in 1841, and in 1853 with his father crossed the plains to California. Remaining as an assistant in that state until 1858, he made a visit in that year to the northern coast, stopping off at Victoria; and, after an inspection of various points, he made a residence near McMinnville, where in 1859 he was married to Miss Susannah Owens. He continued here in farming and stock-raising until 1863, … Read more