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WALLACE FAIRBANK. - The subject of this sketch is one of the substantial and capable men of Union county, and one who showed the metal of which he was made at the time Columbia called for sons to avenge her insult and to put down the minions of rebellion, at which time he responded and did good service until the work was completed and he was honorably discharged, carrying, however, until this day the serious effects of his service and the wounds that he received.

Mr. Fairbank was born in St. Lawrence county, New York on July 27, 1848, being the son of Luther and Nancy (Green) Fairbank. At the early age of ten he started for himself and when he was fifteen years old he enlisted in Company H, First Wisconsin Cavalry, under Colonel Lagrange. In June, 1864, he was detailed to take a wagon train from Nashville, Tennessee, to Atlanta, Georgia, and enroute he was troubled much with guerilla bands, and on one occasion he was prostrated from over exertion, which, with its effects, is present with him, now. While attacking General Wheeler at Spring Hill, he had a horse shot from under him, and in falling the animal crushed the side of our subject, and although he was sent to the hospital, he never recovered his wonted vigor. After his discharge he returned home, and in 1871 went upon an expedition to hunt buffalo, wolf, bear, and so forth, which lasted for three years. Making a good thing from this trapping and hunting expedition, he then turned his attention to farming, taking a homestead in Filmore county, Nebraska. He made the land into a fine farm, then sold and went to York county, buying one-half section of school land, and thence in 1878 he went to the Grande Ronde valley, taking up the stock business for ten years, and went for one year to Long Valley, Idaho: thence to the Sacramento valley in California, and one year later returned to Grande Ronde valley, purchasing two hundred and forty acres of wood land. He followed the wood business until taken with a stroke of paralysis, and then they removed to their present place in Old Town, Lagrande. This was in 1892. He is slowly recovering from the stroke. Since the date mentioned, his wife has managed their business, and they now have a nice business of poultry raising, handling many fowls, and owning some of the finest pens in the state. They have capacity for two thousand chicks in brooders, and for fourteen hundred eggs in the incubators, while the brooders are heated with a ten/horse boiler.

In 1873, Mr. Fairbank married Miss Jennie, daughter of John and Janet (Thornton) Honey. They are prosperous in their business and are highly esteemed in the community. It is of note that in the poultry business they handle about five thousand ducks and chicks each year, and theirs is one of the most completely and practically equipped plants in the west, and their wisdom and skill have made it a boundless success.

From the stanch old buckeye state, in Marion county, came Jackson Fickle, having been born in 1832 to Daniel and Hetty (Tipton) Fickle. While yet a child he was removed to Cass county, Indiana, where the parents remained until the time of their death. In 1858 our subject went to Missouri, and one year later on to Denver, and after spending one or two years there he returned to Missouri and on May 1, 1862, he turned his teams to the west and took up that memorable journey across the plains. Without serious accident or molestation from the savages he landed in Auburn, Baker county, in due time. Here he operated as a freighter for some time between Columbia river and Idaho City and Boise, then went to the Grande Ronde valley and took a quarter-section of land where he has lived since, engaged in the art of agriculture. His place is one mile east from Union and he is one of the leading farmers and stockmen of the county. He has added to his estate from time to time at the present he owns one section of good land that is well improved and handled in a very satisfactory manner.

In 1857 Mr. Fickle and Miss Rachel M. Lamb were married, and to them has been born two children, Coree, who died in June, 1898, and Ed, who is a farmer in the vicinity. Mr. Fickle has had much experience in the adventures and incidents that fall to the lot of the frontiersman, and to detail them all would fill a volume, but let it be said to his credit that in every part of his walk he has gone forward with a firmness and perseverance that are very praiseworthy, and the commendabe results of his labors in these regions speak highly of sagacity in planning, energy and industry in executing and skill in conserving the resources and the results of his labors. He is highly respected by all, and now in the golden years of his life he is enjoying the fruits of his labor and is blessed with the confidence of his fellows.

WILLIAM FINE. - Any compilation that purports to chronicle the careers of the leading men of Union and Wallowa counties would be open to great criticism, were there failure to incorporate therein an epitome of the gentleman, whose name initiates this paragraph, since he is one of the most influential and prominent men of this entire section, being well known over the two counties and as highly esteemed as he is widely known: and since he has achieved a good success here in various enterprises, thus demonstrating his ability to handle the affairs of the business world in a winning manner: and since he is possessed of a genial nature and affability and integrity that stamp him as one of the stanch and substantial citizens.

Our subject is a product of the Webfoot State, being born in Marion county, on January 30, 1854, to Thomas L. and Amelia J. (Haskin) Fine, natives respectfully of Missouri and Illinois. The father came to Oregon in 1847, went to California in the following year, took up stock raising there on the Feather river, also operated a ferry boat on the river until 1852, then sold out and returned to Oregon, taking a donation claim of one half section in Marion county. Stock raising and farming occupied him there until 1864, when he sold out and brought cattle to Walla Walla county, remaining there in the cattle and sheep business until 1870. In that year he came to Union county, settling on Indian creek, three miles north from Elgin, taking three hundred and twenty acres of land. In 1882, he removed to Wallowa valley, near Lostine, and in 1885, removed to Joseph where he opened a hotel, but later retired from active business. In the fall of 1890, he died and is buried in Prairie creek cemetery near Joseph. The mother died on June 28, 1901, and is buried at Elgin. She was living with our subject at the time. Returning now to our subject, he started for himself in 1872, handling cattle in Whitman county, Washington, whence in 1873, he went to southern Idaho in the same business, and in 1875 he came to Union county and took up horse raising. Five years later, he sold his horses and bought land east from Elgin, and there farmed until 1889, at which time he sold this property and bought a dry goods stock in Elgin, filling the place of a successful merchant for two years, then closed out and acted as salesman for one year with the I.C.M. &M. Company. Subsequent to this period he went into the cattle business in Wallowa, on Big Sheep creek, and soon afterwards opened a butcher shop in Elgin. Later he opened a livery stable and handled both in a successful manner until 1897, when the stable and all of its contents were burned. Not to be daunted, however, he immediately rebuilt and launched forth in the business with even better success than formerly. In the last year, Mr. Fine has taken as partners the Barnhill brothers, and the firm are now doing the largest business of their kind in this section of the country. During the last year also, Mr. Fine has been acting as agent for the British government and has purchased many horses for them. He was one of the first board of councilmen of Elgin and he remained in office until 1900 and it is but right to say that in all public capacities as well as in private life, the same uprightness, ability, and integrity have characterized Mr. Fine, and wisdom has been his guide.

On February 4, 1877, Mr. Fine married Miss Sarah E., daughter of Joseph and Mary A. Harris, mention of whom is made in another portion of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Fine have become the parents of the following children: Roda J., Nora F., Frank, Hugh, Lee, Buna, Clariss E., and Cecil. Fraternally, Mr. Fine affiliated with the Masons, Elgin Lodge, No. 98. and with the K. of P. Orion Lodge. No. 73.

John Frawley was born in Syracuse, New York, on May 29, 1850, being the son of Cornelius and Mary (Halliman) Frawley. He was educated in the common schools quite thoroughly and at the building age of eighteen stepped forth from the parental roof to do for himself. he went railroading as brakeman and soon had worked his way to freight conductor. He operated on a number of roads in the east. Eighteen hundred and seventy-two, marks the date of his advent to the west. Nevada being the objective point. He continued railroading and soon we find him in the Grande Ronde valley operating the first freight trains that ran in the valley. he hauled the first passengers that had the distinction to ride into this section on the railroad, the freight train being the conveyance. In 1889 he was conductor on the Hunt line in Washington, where he met with a serious accident, which changed his career. He was assiting tomake up a train and slipping, fell in such a way that the front part of each foot was taken off instantly. He quit railroading and as soon as possible went to keeping a grocery store in Lagrande. One year was spent in this business and then he took up farming until 1898, and then the people called him from the plow to act as custodian of the funds of the county. He has proved both faithful and efficient, as has been his record always, and three terms have been accorded to him, as stated above.

Mr. Frawley is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Red Cross Lodge, No. 27, of Lagrande. he is a charter member of the institution and past chancellor. In 1887 Mr. Frawley married Miss Millie Collins, of Summerville, and one child has been the fruit of this union, Harry J., born April 2, 1892.Mr. Frawley ahs a fine five-room residence in Union and his home is the center of refined hospitality under the guidance of his estimable wife who presides with gracious dignity.

Mr. Fugate was introduced to this life on September 16, 1853, in Schuyler county, Missouri, being the son of Robert B. and Elizabeth C. (McConnell) Fugate. He has been an enterprising and wide-awake man of energy all through his course. His education was gained in the common schools with a course at the Ottumwa Commercial College in Iowa, having also served a good apprenticeship as assistant to his father on the farm in his native county and in Howard county, the same state. Subsequent to the completion of his course he engaged as bookkeeper for a commercial house, then went to New Sharon, Iowa, being married in that city on June 11, 1882, the lady of his choice being Miss Susie, daughter of Cornelius R. and Sara M. (Ross) McGuire. In that same place he was also installed as manager of an express and freight office, continuing in that capacity until the spring of 1883, when he resigned to take up the journey to Summerville, whence he migrated with his family and settled in this vicinity as a farmer. In 1887 he left the farm and engaged with the Summerville milling company as bookkeeper, holding that position until the property burned down. Then he clerked for Wade Brothers and in 1886 he was elected justice of the peace. Subsequent to this event he opened an office in Summerville, and since that time he has been doing a general collecting business handling real estate, loans and insurance, being also agent for the Banker's Life Insurance Company of Des Moines, Iowa, in which he does a representative business. He is serving as justice of the peace at the present time, and is a faithful and  capable public officer. He has a tasty,modern residence in the city and also owns other property. He is a member of the I.O.O.F., being a past grand. Mr. Fugate held the responsible office of presidentof the city council for four years and also has acted in other public capacities. Mr. Fugate is actively interested in church and educational affairs and is always laboring for advancement in these as in other lines.

Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fugate, namely; Harry C. and Gracie F. Mrs. Fugate's parents came to this country in 1882, the father passing away in August, 1901, but the mother is still living in Summerville. Mr. Fugate is a stockholder in the Summerville creamery and is secretary of the association.

Mr. Furgason was born in Rouse's Point, New York, on March 26, 1826, and there he was reared on a farm until he was nineteen years of age. He was well educated in the common schools of his native place, and at the age mentioned he departed from the parental roof and migrated to Pilot Mountain, in the Iron mountains of southwestern Missouri. In that place he assisted in establishing the Iron Mountain Works, where he wrought for three years, then returned to New York on a visit, whence he went to Portage, Wisconsin, and there engaged in lumber business for about fourteen years, or until 1862. In that year he was led by an adventurous spirit to join the Davis train, which was bound for Oregon and across the plains to Union county. While en route they frequently saw the gruesome signs of murdered people who had been slain and robbed by the Indians. Providence smiled on the train with which our subject traveled, and they made the trip without molestation from the savages. They arrived in the Grande Ronde valley October 5, 1862, and Mr. Furgason had the distinction of being the first actual settler on the island where now stands Island City. Provisions were scarce and nature resented the invading of her domain by the pioneers, and they had to struggle hard for all that they secured. Mr. Furgason was practically without capital, except a good strong constitution, indomitable courage and a heart brave and true. He set to work and the scanty means were soon spent in getting provisions. He records that three dollars were paid for a milk pan of vegetables. He made a trip to The Dalles for provisions and seed, using four yoke of oxen and two yoke of cows. Before starting he paid twenty-five dollars for one sack of flour. At The Dalles, a distance of two hundred and ten miles from his homestead, he bought flour at eight dollars per barrel, inferior bacon at twenty-five cents per pound, molasses at two dollars per gallon, wheat and oats five cents per pound, potatoes five cents per pound and dig them himself, chickens one dollar per head, and other things in proportion. Returning across the Blue mountains, he was overtaken in a storm, and only preserved portions of his precious load by building a fire under the wagon. Such were some of the difficulties and hardships of the early settlers of this country. He soon improved is homestead, planted the first orchard, and started to raise the fruits of the soil and rear stock. Steadily he has pursued his way, and abundant success has crowned his efforts. In 1873 he bought four hundred and eighty acres of land, six miles distant from his homestead, where his son, Leander, now lives. In 1880 he bought three hundred and sixty acres for pasture. He handled about three hundred head of horses each year and four hundred cattle.

Mr. Furgason was married to Miss Jenette L. Dwinell, daughter of Luther and Caroline (Bryant) Dwinell, and to them have been born four children, George H., Ella (deceased), Leander, and Ada, the first white girl born in the Grande Ronde valley. All are married. Mr. Furgason has always taken an interest in the affairs of government, but has constantly refused office for himself; his political inclinations lead him to be allied with the Republicans. He is one of the most prosperous and progressive farmers of the co8unty, and is highly respected by all. He has wrought so well and faithfully in the county that words are feeble to express the excellency of his career, but the works speak in more eloquent tone than aught else, and now in his golden years he is surrounded by loved ones and has the joy to see his works appreciated and boundless success crowning him.