This is a biography I have donated. If you have any biographies you can donate, please drop a line to Janine M. Bork.Your information can help others.

JOHN T. GALLOWAY. - Any account of the leading agriculturists of Union county would be quite incomplete without a mention of the esteemed gentleman whose name is at the head of this article and who has been a potent factor in the development of the resources of this county for many years also, having wrought with the same assiduity and enterprise in other localities and ever manifesting the same sagacity and thrift that have characterized him in this locality, where he has gained the confidence of all and made himself one of the prominent men of the community.

John T. was born August 22, 1848, in Owen county, Indiana, being the son of William H. and Sarah A. (Lawson) Galloway, natives respectively of Tennessee and Kentucky. The elder Galloway was in the shoe business in Spencer, county seat of Owen county, but in 1858 he removed to Charleston, Coles county, Illinois, and there operated in business until 1865, when he migrated to Mount Ayr, Iowa, remaining there until 1873. In this last year he determined to try the west and accordingly came over the entire distance to Cowlitz county, Washington, where he was numbered with the agriculturists until 1878, then he removed to Union county, taking a homestead near Pine Grove, where he farmed for four years, then he removed to Elgin, retiring from active life until his death, which occurred in June, 1892. The mother is still living with her son, H.S. Galloway, at the Cove. Returning more to our subject, we note that he obtained his education in the various places where the family resided during his minority, and also that he came with the family to Washington, being then twenty-four years of age, and he bought land and farmed there until the father came to Union county, when he also came hither and took a homestead adjoining the parental estate. Five years he tried stock-raising and farming there and then being dissatisfied with this country sold out and went to Arkansas, but ten months of that section was sufficient time to convince him that Oregon was the place for a man to live and he returned to this county, being poorer in purse but richer in experience. his exchequer was so depleted that he was not able to pay the freight on some sawmill machinery which he had ordered being determined to start a sawmill here. He secured a quarter-section three miles north from Elgin, where he now lives and by dint of careful management and pluck erected a sawmill, and to the operation of this plant and the production of the fruits of the field, he gave his attention with energy and wisdom and the result was that he prospered abundantly and he owned a fine plant for the manufacture of lumber until 1898 when he turned it over to his sons to operate: and he also owns eleven hundred acres of as good land as is found in Union county, which is well improved and embellished with an elegant house, fine barns and all necessary outbuildings, being a typical rural home of thrift and comfort.

On November 5, 1871, in Ringgold county, Iowa, Mr. Galloway married Miss Sarah E., daughter of Daniel and Jane (Rickibaugh) Merritt, natives of Ohio and to them were born three children. Jewell W., Cecil A. and Edna J., who died in September 1881, and lies buried in Hyland cemetery. Mrs. Galloway was called from her happy home and family on November 26, 1878, and her remains are buried in Hyland cemetery.

On December 21, 1879, Mr. Galloway married a second time, the lady of his choice being Elizabeth A., daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Paul) Parker, natives of England, and three children have come to them. Daisy P., died December 3, 1887, aged seven years and two months: Floyd T. and Edith E. Mrs. Galloway was born at Cape of Good Hope, Africa, on September 3, 1851. Mr. Galloway is a member of the Masons Elgin Lodge No. 98. He and his wife affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church and are highly esteemed among their fellows. In 1901 our subject and estimable wife took a pleasure trip to Florida and the occasion was attended with many pleasant rememberances. We are pleased to mention that our subject has the confidence of the entire community and he is one of the substantial men of the county.