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Frank P. Childers, the present sheriff of Union county was bornin Scotland county, Missouri, August 15, 1858, the son of James P. and Mary (McDowell) Childers. The father was born in Richmond, Virginia, and was a son of Robert Childers, who left England and went to Kentucky, where he resided until his son James was two years of age, when he removed to Missouri.

The mother, Mary McDowell, was the daughter of David McDowell, who moved from Kentucky to Missouri, where he was engaged in farming and horse raising. James P. and Mary (McDowell) Childers were married in Missouri and settled on a farm there. At the time of the gold excitement in California, James McDowell [sic - Childers] crossed the plains to that state and engaged mining, in which he was very successful. He then returned to his family in Missouri and was engaged extensively in farming until the beginning of the Civil war.

During the war he lost all of his property and in 1865 he crossed the plains with his family and settled in the Grande Ronde valley, in Oregon, where he resided on a rented farm for five years and then homesteaded a tract of one hundred and sixty acres on the northern end of Summerville prairie, where he reside the rest of his life. He was a great lover of fine horses and engaged extensively in raising them.

In politics he was a strong democrat. Before coming west he and his wife were members of the Christian church but they later united with the Methodist church. They were very hospitable and their home was a common meeting place for all the residents of the community, the father being known as "Uncle Jim Childers."

He died on his claim at the age of seventy-three, and his wife also passed away a few years later at the same age. In their family were the following sons: Thomas, who preceded his parents to Oregon; John: James; George, Cyrus; and Frank P., of this review, who were with their parents while crossing the plains; Charles, who died on the plains and is buried near the Platte river; and Henry, who was born in Oregon and died at the age of two years.

Frank P. Childers was seven years of age when his parents came to Oregon and he was reared and attended the district schools there. After his school days he engaged in stock raising and farming, residing on one place five years, and then took up a homestead north of Summerville, where he lived until he left the farm and engaged in the livery business at Island City.

Later he came to La Grande and established a livery barn and also engaged in the butchering business. In 1895 he was elected city marshal of La Grande, which position he held for five years. In 1905 he was made sheriff of Union county, in which capacity his now serving.

In 1876 Mr. Childers was united in marriage with Miss Mary Adler Baker, a native of Iowa and a daughter of John and Margaret (Goodman) Baker, who crossed the plains from Iowa in 1862 and settled in Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Childers have become the parents of six children: Della, who is the wife of Fred Wagner, a barber, of La Grande; Clive [sic - Olive], who is captain in the Salvation Army; Wallace, of Portland; Jessie, who died at the age of sixteen; Myrtle, of La Grande; and Ruth, who died at the age of six years.

In politics Mr. Childers is a democrat, and fraternally his is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to La Grande Lodge, No. 16, in which he has filled all the chairs. In Union county he has organized two lodges, the Elgin and Cone [sic - Cove]. He also is a member of La Grande Lodge, No. 433, B. P. O. E.; Aerie No. 59, of the Eagles; and La Grande Lodge, W. O. W. His wife is a member of the Order of Rebekahs.

While acting as city marshal Mr. Childers made a most commendable official record and won the good-will of all the residents of La Grande, and now in discharging the duties of sheriff of Union county he acts without fear or favor, always accomplishing whatever he undertakes, for he possesses resolution, perseverance and reliability, all of which make him a most excellent public official.

It is hardly probable that in a humble sketch, as is this article, there could real justice be done the life of a worthy pioneer as is he whose name is at the beginning of the paragraph, for what page has yet pictured as it is the life of a pioneer? Hardships that are more trying than can be described, dangers on every hand that those living in the security of a civilized community can not understand, self-denials at every turn, and labors without respite, all of these endured and much more besides, fell to the lot of the brave man who faced the west in the early sixties and made this country what it is today. James W. Childers was a man who took his full share in this arduous work and to him it is just that there should be accorded proper representation in the work that gives his county's history, and also, too, because of his own excellent personal characteristics of capabilities and moral worth.

On October 24, 1848, near Memphis, Scotland county, Missouri, James W. was born to James L. and Mary J. (McDowell) Childers. The father enlisted in Price's army and served eighteen months, being honorably discharged at the close of that period. In 1865 the family came across the plains, settling in Union county, one and one-half miles northwest from Summerville. The father lived on that farm for thirty years, till the time of his death, which occurred on November 1, 1896. The mother died in Summerville on April 21, 1901. Our subject lived with his father until his marriage, which occurred on June 5, 1870. Miss Emma J., daughter of John Q. A. and Louisa (Stout) Tice, then becoming his wife. Mrs. Tice came to Marion county in 1843 from Iowa, being the second train that wound its way across the dreary plains, and much trouble was experienced with the savages. Mr. Tice was a native of New Jersey and came by the ocean to Portland in 1845.

To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born seven children: Charles L., deceased; Clara A., wife of John Rhodes, of Elgin; Lillie M., wife of William Ikle, of New York City; William F., married to Cora Morelock of Leap; Dora E., wife of Frederick Becker, of Elgin; Albert L.; Amos E. Mr. and Mrs. Ikle are now on a tour through Europe. Mr. Ikle is a wealthy Swiss manufacturer, whose interests are at Gaull,in Switzerland, he being a prominent man of his country.

Mr. and Mrs. Childers lived on their farm near Summerville until 1892, then moved to Elgin, on a farm, afterward moving into the town, and in 1899 he came to his present place of two hundred and eighty acres, two and on-half miles southeast from Leap. His farm is well improved and tilled and is a valuable place. He also handles considerable stock. Mr. Childers is a charter member of the I. O. O. F., Wallowa Lodge, No. 154, and he also affiliates with the Masons. He is one of the earliest pioneers of the Grande Ronde valley and there, as well as here, he has always labored for the advancement of the country and the interest of the people, while also he has labored assiduously for the cause of education and constantly for better facilities for this worthy work, and in all of his relations he has demeaned himself as a man of uprightness, probity and sincerity, coupled with ability and integrity.