JAMES L. STORY. – Mr. Story, the present mayor of The Dalles, Oregon, and a lawyer of leading character, is one of the Oregon educated men of whom the state has reason to be proud.
He was born in Missouri in 1845, but at the age of eight years came with his parents across the plains to Oregon. The first home was on the Willamette river among the groves of maple and magnificent cottonwood trees where is now situated the little town of Lincoln. In 1854 he removed to McMinnville, and at that place, in 1864,enlisted in the First Oregon Infantry as quartermaster’s clerk, serving until 1865.
Resuming civil life, he engaged in teaching, and by that means was enabled also to perfect himself in the English branches and in the sciences at McMinnville College. In 1868 he entered upon the more substantial duties and joys of life, marrying Miss Lucretia Cozine of McMinnville, and engaging in agriculture. In 1872 he made a trial of the climate and opportunities of the Inland Empire, locating at Weston, where he followed his former profession as teacher, and added to those duties the study of law, reading with Brents & Reed of Walla Walla. Returning to McMinnville, he completed his legal training under the tutelage of James McKean, and was admitted to practice before the supreme court of our state in 1881.
Five years succeeding were spent upon the sea-coast to improve the health of his family; and a stay of a year at McMinnville after their life by the ocean was followed by a removal to their present home, The Dalles. Mr. Story is widely and favorably known, not only at The Dalles, but far into the surrounding regions, and with his law partner, J.E. Atwater, has a large practice. As mayor of the city he lends dignity and decorum as well as vigor to the municipal government, and is very much a man of the people.