In many of the walks of life are those in Wallowa County who have labored faithfully for the opening of the country and the subduing of nature’s wilds, but there are none who have met face to face the hardships of the pioneer, and done battle with the opposing forces of the obstacles of the frontiersman, more than those who follow the agriculturist’s life; and well known in this class is the esteemed gentleman of whom we have now the pleasure to write, in giving the salient points of his career, while it would be quite out of place to omit mention of his integrity and faithful qualities of uprightness and enterprise with which he is so richly endowed.
Mr. Stubblefield was born in Missouri in 1855, being the son of Thomas and Martha (Kennedy) Stubblefield, natives, respectively, of Missouri and Tennessee. The mother died while the family remained in Missouri and then the father came in 1878 to Union county, settling on Cricket flat and taking a homestead. Here he gave his attention to opening a farm and building a home until just previous to his death, which occurred a short time since in La Grande. At the age of nineteen our subject commenced battle for himself on the plane of life’s activities and his first venture was to operate in the lead mines of Missouri, continuing for one year in this work. Afterward he went to Cedar County in the same state and took up farming for two years, and then he made the trip across the continent to the Grande Ronde valley and settled on Cricket flat in Union county in 1877, taking a preemption claim. Two years after this settlement he migrated to Wallowa County, remaining at the Wallowa bridge for one year, then repaired to Enterprise, bought a claim and sold considerable land and at the present time he has one-quarter section improved, and he is one of the energetic and well to do farmers of our county.
The marriage of Mr. Stubblefield and Miss Mary C., daughter of William and Nancy (Montgomery) Foust, occurred in September 1875. Mrs. Stubblefield’s parents were early pioneers of Missouri and are still living near Stockton, Cedar County, in that state. To Mr. And Mrs. Stubblefield there have been born ten children, as follows: Orpha, Omar, Ethel, Everett, Owen, Ralph, Nellie, Vera, an infant that died in 1896, Mary. Mr. Stubblefield has been for years laboring in the work of advancement in our county, has ever been in the vanguard of progress, manifesting those broad principles of public policy and views that are for the welfare of all, while his life of sagacity, and stanch worth has been an example for all, and today he holds the enviable position of one of the most substantial men of the county and one of our most progressive citizens.