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, a fine orchard, cattle and horses, and are contented and prosperous.
In 1876 they visited the Centennial exposition and their own old home. William took a little hand in the Bannock war of 1878, and had a number of thrilling experiences. On one occasion he, with seven other men and an Indian scout, unwittingly rode among twenty-seven Indians who were concealed in the brush; and he is still congratulating himself on having his scalp left. They were, of course, at the mercy of the Indians; and there is a mystery connected with the fact that they were not fired upon.
In 1880 Mr. William Rynearson married Miss Ella Tall of Grande Ronde; and a family is springing up around him. The brothers have a high reputation as hunters, having been very successful in taking deer, elk and bear in the Blue Mountains around their home during the sixties and early seventies.