GEORGE M. JASPER. Among the prosperous and thrifty agricultural and stock-raising population of Union county there should be mentioned in a work of the character of the volume now under consideration of the substantial citizen whose name initiates this paragraph, because he has lived since an early day in the county, being practically a product of its institutions, and because he has achieved here a worthy and commendable success, and because of the stanch qualities with which he is endowed so richly.
In Oregon have been born some of the leading citizens of Oregon, and one among the number is our subject, he having been born in Benton county on January 26, 1865, to Merrell and Nancy J. (Means) Jasper, pioneers from Missouri in the early time of 1852, and settling in the Willamette valley. In 1868 the parents came to Union county, settling near where the son now lives, and the father was not only one of the leading stockmen and farmers of the county, but was also a leader in the realm of politics. He was ever interested in good government and was potent in bringing about influences for upbuilding and advancement. In 1876 the people of the county chose him for the state senate, and there he did good service and faithful. In 1885, April, he was called from the cares and responsibilities of earth to the world above, whence his beloved companion had preceded him in June 1871.
The immediate subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of our county and then engaged for wages in farming for a time, when he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Elgin, taking up one hundred and sixty more from the government. Here he gave his attention to general farming until December, 1897, when he purchased two hundred acres seven and one-half mile north of Cove, and to this he has since added by purchase two hundred and eighty more, which makes him a fine estate that is well tilled and skillfully handled. From one hundred and ten acres he raises hay and grain, and the balance is devoted to pasture for his herds.
On December 1, 1897, Mr. Jasper married Miss Ella, daughter of Davis and Julia Boswell, and to them have been born the following children: Ora, three years of age on December 14, 1901; Gladys, eleven months old at the present writing, January, 1902. Mrs. Jasper’s parents were early settlers of Union county, and wrought with that worthy number who have developed this fertile region for the abode of man. Mr. Jasper is well esteemed by his fellows, has an unsullied reputation, is a man of good qualities and true, while he has done much for the upbuilding of his home county, and has shown those characteristics which are the make-up of the substantial and capable citizen.
Submitted by Tom Childers.