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FRED D. GASKILL. - As a typical representative of the progresive western agriculturist and stockman, than whom there is not a more wideawake and up-to-date individual in the United States, the subject of this brief review stands, and although a man just entering the walks of life, he has manifested an industry and thrift and ability that have rewarded him in a great measure, and which he justly deserves from the efforts put forth. It is gratifying to note how excellently our subject has wrought out for himself here a prosperity and competence that demonstrate both his good financiering and his keen foresight, and practical judgment, while also he has shown the fine moral qualities of worth with which he is so liberally endowed.

Mr. Gaskill was born in Lapeer county, Michigan, on September 3, 1871, being the son of Ebenezer D. Gaskill, now a resident of the Grande Ronde valley. As soon as our subject had arrived at school years he attended nine months in every year, until he was thirteen years of age, when he gave his entire attention to assisting his father on the latter's farm, continuing in this praiseworthy occupation until he had reached his majority. In the year 1887 he came with his father to Union county, locating on Sand Ridge, there remaining until twenty-one years of age. At that age he commenced operations on the field of life's activities for himself, first renting a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which he tilled for three years, producing therefrom each year from three to eight thousand bushels of grain. At the end of his renting period, which was in the year 1901, he selected a farm, three miles east from Lagrande, containing two hundred and forty acres, and purchased it. It is one of the finest farms of the county, having fertile and strong soil. Mr. Gaskill lives there at the present time, and is giving his entire attention to raising the fruits of the field and to handling stock. The farm is well tilled and he is planning good improvements, while his estate is stocked with all necessary utensils and provided with commodious and comfortable buildings. He is classed as one of the most progressive farmers of the county, and surely the unqualified success that has attended him throughout, abundantly sustains that statement.

Mr. Gaskill married Miss Nellie M., daughter of George and Rebecca (Lamb) Smith, in 1892, and they have been blessed with twochildren, as follows: Elva May and Ruth R. Mrs. Gaskill's parents were among the very first pioneers that came to dwell in this valley, settling here as early as 1864, securing one of the best farms of the valley, located on the island. Mrs. Gaskill was born in the valley on January 1, 1873. Mr. Gaskill is active in the realm of politics, manifesting a deep and solicitous interest in the welfare of the county and in political matters generally. He is allied with the Democratic party, being a supporter of the stanch Jeffersonian principles. He is also a member of the A.O.U.W. and is generally popular wherever he is known. Mr. Gaskill is a man of ability, execution, and sagacity, while his integrity and uprightness are no less in evidence in his daily walk, and his advent in the county was a valuable acquisition to our population.

By way of reminiscence it is interesting to note that the fort for the protection of the settlers in the time of the Indian troubles of 1878 was located in Mr. Gaskill's orchard. The timbers in this edifice were used on the farm and they are still in evidence, as also the port holes bored for the use of rifles. Those times are passed forever and in peace, plenty and contentment the worthy settlers of this grand valley may now repose.

JAMES E. GILKISON. - It is very pleasant to note that in place of the old pioneers that are too swiftly passing away from our midst, there is coming a class of industrious and enterprising agriculturists and business men that are doing credit to their illustrious predecessors in handling the resources of the county, and among this worthy number we must not fail to mention the thrifty and capable agriculturist whose name initiates this paragraph, and to whom we accord with pleasure a place in these abiding chronicles of our county, since he is one of the producers of wealth in the county and is also classed among the leaders of the younger population, he himself being native here, and having always wrought beneath the stars of the occident.

James E. was born to James and Mary A. (McFadden) Gilkison, on January 24, 1870, the location of his birth being at the home place where the parents now live, on Wolfe creek, four miles west from North Powder. He was raised on a farm and attended the public schools and occupied himself in learning also the art of stock-raising and tilling the soil, until he had reached his majority, when he entered the battle of life on his own account. He gave his attention to farming and stock-raising, being familiar with that, and soon he acquired a good farm, two and one-half miles west from North Powder, where he resides at the present time. His ranch embraces one-quarter section and is well improved and operated in a good manner. He has a substantial barn and comfortable dwelling, besides numerous other accessories that are useful to the ranch. He handles some stock, but gives the larger portion of his attention to producing the fruits of the soil, and bountiful crops are the rewards to him of his endeavors.

Mr. Gilkison and Miss Marguerette, daughter of Robert and Marguerette Shaw, were married on November 8, 1898, and they have been blessed by the advent of two children, Norris E. and Robert E. Mr. Gilkison is at the beginning of life, and he has already demonstrated the energy and talent with which he is generously favored, and his wisdom and faithfulness and sound principles all bid fair to make him one of the most substantial and successful citizens of the entire county, while at the present he is esteemed and respected by all.

      Mark M. Gilkison spent his boyhood on the homestead and received his educaton in the district school.  His first business was that of riding the range and logging, at which he spent about eight years, a part of that time residing in California and other states.  During those days he had many thrilling experiences such as were incident to the range and logging businesses in the early days.  In 1901 he began blacksmithing and about two years later purchased the shop of J. E. Carroll in North Powder having since then successfully conducted that business.

     Being an influential and able man, he served very efficiently as a member of the city council.  Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, taking an active interest in the affairs of that order.  Mr. Gilkison is a man of more than ordinary intelligence and ablility and is physicially a fine specimen of manhood.  He is greatly respected by all who know him and is a leader in the community.

Thomas H. Gilham was born in Siskiyou county, California, on February 13, 1858, being the son of Calvit A. and Almeda (Howell) Gilham. His father was a "Forty-niner" to California from Iowa and while the son was still young came with his family to Josephine county, Oregon and later migrated to the Willamette valley and as early as 1863 was a resident of the Grande Ronde valley. He was a blacksmith by trade and opened a shop in Lagrande, where he beat the anvil to the time of industry and honesty until 1868 and then removed to Island City and there opened the first shop in that town. He bought one hundred and sixty acres of land and supervised a general farming industry until about 1888, when he returned to Iowa and is living in his early home state at the present time. Our subject attended school in Lagrande, gaining, a good education and when he had arrived at sufficient age, rented his father's farm, working the same until 1882. He also served two years as apprentice in a drug store in Island City, and in 1885 purchased his present place, near Alicel. He first bought eighty acres and then added later one hundred more. Twenty of this is timber but the balance is all tilled. He raises good cros of the cereals and has seven acres planted to various kinds of fruit, largely winter apples. Mr. Gilham takes great interest in the culture of fruit and has made good progress in this industry.

On June 15, 1881, Mr. Gilham married Miss Flora, daughter of Edward T. and Margarette (McGuire) Neville, and they have been blessed with two children, Almeda, at school in Lagrande and Earl, at home. Mrs. Gilham's father was an early pioneer to California, 1850 being the date of his advent there. In 1871 they came to Union county and opened up the first farm on Sand Ridge. Mrs. Gilham's father was county commissioner of Union county when the court house was built and was a faithful and capable officer. Mr. Gilham has been a member of the county central committee, where his coucils were valuable in the interests of his party. He has also been judge of the election several times and in 1898 he was nominated for county judge, and although his nomination was unanimous, he was defeated in the election by sevnety-seven votes. Mr. Gilham has also been delegate to the state convention. He has three brothers, one G.W. Gilham, being representative to the state legislature from Grant county, Montana; another C.A. Gilham, living in Malheur county. Our subject is identified with the Methodist church, south, and is active in the interests of his faith. He has been in the county from the earliest day and is well acquainted  with its history, progress and development and has in all these years maintained an unsullied reputation and displayed a sagacity and intrinsic worth that stamp him as a leader and which eminently qualify him to receive both the esteem and respect of his fellows, which we are constrained to say, he enjoys in an unstinted measure.

ALBERT GOOD. - One of Union county's intelligent and enterprising agriculturists and stockmen is named at the head of this sketch and we are constrained to grant him representation in this volume of his county's history since he is one of the leading men of to-day and because he has achieved a very flattering success here, and because his personal characteristics of ability and integrity demand a place for him among those so represented having achieved his splendid success by dint of hard effort and wise management.

In Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on September 25, 1844, the subject of this sketch was born to Jacob and Elizabeth (Courtwright) Good, where he also received a good common-school education and assisted his father on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age. It was in February, 1865, that he turned toward the west, coming by rail to St. Joseph, Missouri, and thence by team of oxen across the plains to Salmon Falls, Idaho, where he engaged with Briggs and Clark to operate a ferry. In March of the following year he came to Lagrande and for three years was engaged in various work, and then bought a team and freighted and logged until 1872, when he came into the valley and bought a farm partly cultivated and devoted his attention to tilling that. In 1884 he purchased another quarter, where he now resides, one and one-half miles north and one and one-fourth miles east from Lagrande. In 1886 he purchased another quarter and now he devotes his attention to general farming, to raising stock and to producing sugar beets, raising as many as eight hundred tons of beets annually, being one of the largest beet raisers of the section. He has an elegant residence of modern design and supplied with all of the improvements, besides commodious barns and outbuildings that cost more than three thousand dollars. He owns also other property and is one of the leading property owners of the county.

In 1871 the marriage of Mr. Good and Miss Cordelia, daughter of Frank and Jane (Wantling) Koontz, of Baker county, was solemnized and they have become the parents of the following children: Elizabeth J., wife of Albert Pratt, living in Huntington.; Emma A., wife of Edward Carpenter, living in Lagrande; Nora M., married to Franklin Carpenter, in Lagrande, Minnie E., wife of Robert Safford, living near Pilot Rick, Oregon; Jessie M., and Grover R., living with their parents. Mrs. Good's father was an old pioneer of Baker county and met his death in a painful manner. He was crossing the mountains to his saw mill on Burnt river when his snow show broke and he was left helpless in the snow, and when found was nearly dead, but survived a few weeks. Mr. Good is a Democrat in politics and always active in this field, he is also one of the influential men of the county and highly esteemed by all.

In 1847 he went to Mexico in the quartermaster's employ as courier, wagon-master, clerk, and interpreter of Spanish, under Major Sprague, General Howard and others, and remained in Mexico, New Mexico and Texas until the fall of 1849. He met with numerous adventures with Apaches, Mexican guerillas and Comanches, and buried many brave comrades, and was even obliged to leave some unburied. He carries scars in remembrance of Indian arrows, and has vivid recollections of many perils, having been by the side of Major Stein when he was shot in the Sierra Blanco Mountains, where his two bosom companions, Joe Allison and Jim McAllister of Missouri, were left unburied. He also recollects affairs of interest in connection with the Seminole chief, Wildcat, and his sub-chief, Gopher John, a coal-black Negro, campaigning on the Mexican border.

In October, 1849, Mr. Goodall was engaged in prospecting for gold in Southern California. In 1850 he had reached El Paso del Norte, and entered the quartermaster's service. In 1851, he went to Texas with a government expedition, and thence eastward home to Jefferson City, Missouri. In 1852, longing once again for the unbounded West, he crossed the plains to Oregon, locating near Oregon City a Donation claim, which he improved and subsequently sold. He mined in Southern Oregon, and was acquainted there with many of the prominent old-timers. In 1861 he came to The Dalles and engaged  in mercantile pursuits, becoming interested in real estate in that city and at Umatilla Landing, in which he was very successful. In 1863 he was on the advance wave of mining excitement at Boise, trading and speculating until March, 1865, when he located at Ladd's cañon in the Grande Ronde valley, where he owns at the present time four hundred acres of good farming land.

Since coming to Oregon, he had paid two visits to Missouri, one to Frazier river, and one to California, but has found no place so attractive as Grande Ronde valley. From 1881 to 1884 he was assessor of Union county, and in 1886 was elected county judge; and this position he still retains, residing in the very handsome little city of Union.

In 1853 he was married at Oregon City to Miss Louisa Bell, a native of Illinois, by whom he has three children. In 1864 he was married, secondly, to Miss Grace Gray of Portland, by whom he has nine children. He has seven grandchildren, and in his sixty-first year is hale and hearty, and as ready as ever to work for the development of his adopted state.

He is thoroughly familiar with the topography and resources of Union county, and is very earnest in his belief that it offers inducements to bona-fide homeseekers superior to those of any other portion of the United States. He predicts wonderful developments of the wonderful resources of this county which as yet are only beginning to attract attention.

He was born to Antoine and Rose (Gouse) Goyette, natives of Canada, in East Canada, near Montreal, on April 5, 1841. There he received his education and remained on the farm with his parents until 1858, when his spirit of adventure led him to the "States." He landed in Burlington, Vermont and went to work at brick-making, cutting wood in the winter, following this for two years, and then took a place in the cotton mills at Three Rivers, Massachusetts, at eleven dollars per month, his board costing eight of that. Three months of this service was sufficient for his restless spirit and on February 5, 1860, he, in company with his cousin and a friend, boarded the steamer Golden Gate and made the trip via Aspinwall to that beautiful bay, the Golden Gate, landing there on February 28, 1860, with but very few dollars in pocket. He could not speak a word of English, but soon had found a job in Oakland of clearing a grain field for a sufficient sum to pay for food, and then the owner planted the ground in potatoes and in May dug them up and they sold the entire crop at five cents per pound. Then he harvested and later went to the redwood forests, Solano county, and made shingles until the spring of 1861, at which time he went to Washoe, Nevada, the mines at that place becoming famous at that time. Mining for himself and working in the larger mines he spent the time until February, 1867, when he went to San Francisco and doctored for a paralytic stroke that he had suffered. In the fall of the same year he took a squatter's right on a piece of land in Solano county and busied himself raising chickens, general farming and hunting until July, 1871, when he came to the Willamette valley and farmed for ten months, and then migrated to the Grande Ronde valley and took up his present ranch, eight miles southeast from Union, in High valley. His original holding was one hundred and twenty acres and to this he added eighty by purchase and one hundred and sixty by right of pre-emption, making a fine estate three-fourths of three hundred and sixty acres. He raises about ninety acres of grain and pastures the balance of the land. He formerly handled cattle and horses, but has disposed of them, and confines his efforts at the present time to farming and raising hogs, and the animals necessary for domestic purposes.<?p>

Mr. Goyette was married to Miss Mary, daughter of Henry and Julie Choron, on December 25, 1870, and to them were born the following children: Joseph, born in 1873, now a railroad man at Roseburg, this state; Valentine, born in 1881, now the wife of Fred Mayette, a farmer living in this county.

In 1882 Mr. Goyette made a trip east, visiting Springfield, Massachusetts; Rhode Island, Connecticut and Keysville, New York. He then returned to Rhode Island and there married Miss Abbie T., daughter of Francis and Amelia (Marcur) Bushey, on December 17, 1882. Mr. Bushey is a carpenter and a native of St. Illier, East Canada. Mr. Goyette remained three and one-half months and then went from Keysville, New York, to Montreal, Canada, and then took the trip home.

Mr. Goyette is a member of the Catholic church and is a man of unquestioned integrity and uprightness having ever been dominated by wisdom and principles of truth which have made him one of the most substantial and highly respected citizens of the county.

JOHN GRAHAM. - The well known gentleman, whose name initiates this paragraph is both a reprsentative business man and farmer of Union county, his estate being four and one-half miles east from Elgin, where he has made a comfortable showing, while also he has dealt in real estate in this section and others, manifesting a keen judgment and practical ability that have won success.

On May 24, 1853, John Graham was born in Davis county, Iowa, being the son of Jackson and Martha Graham, who were among the brave and devoted band of pioneers that crossed the dreary plains and brought civilization and light to these wild regions. Eighteen hundred and sixty-four was the date of their advent into Walla Walla county, Washington, where they took up land from the state and engaged in farming. A decade later they removed to Union county and there were occupied with the agricultural art until the time for retirment from activity came and they now rest in Elgin. Our subject remained with his father until the age of twenty-two had been attained and then independent action was inaugurated. He first took unsurveyed land, later selling it and removing onto a pre-emption, where he farmed for two years and then sold that also. Eighteen hundred and seventy-nine was the year when he removed to Garfield county, Washington, tilling the soil there until 1881, when he came back to Union county, purchasing a farm of two hundred acres from the state, east from Elgin, and there for three years, he was engaged in farming and stock raising. From this time forward for a season he bought and sold different places finally settling on his present place of two hundred acres, east from Elgin. He is one of the producers of the fruits of the field, and he is also occupied in rasing stock, being attended with abundant success in his endeavors, in early days, he spent much time in freighting from Umatilla to Baker and Union counties.

Mr. Graham, married Miss Anna, daughter of Abraham and Amanda Fine, in Weiser, Idaho, on December 12, 1877, and they have been blessed with eight children: Hurley E., Maud, Scott, Wayne, Bertha, Glenn, Bessie and Ernest. Mr. Graham is a member of the Masons, Lodge No. 98, of Elgin. Mrs. Graham is a native of Missouri, being born April 10, 1863, and her parents came to this county from that state in 1874 and joined the agricultural population here. They had retired from active life and were living in Elgin at the time when the angel of death summoned them hence, the mother dying May 23, 1892, and the father January 17, 1897, and their remains are buried in the cemetery at Summerville, Mr. Graham is a man of sterling qualities and has manifested uprightness and integrity during all his long and faithful work here and the result is that he is highly esteemed and he is the recipient of the confidence of his fellows.

He is a native of New York, was born in1837, but as a child removed with his parents to Ohio, and before he was twenty had penetrated as far west as Iowa. In 1859 he setoff for Pike's Peak, but was borne on by the rush of Western life to California. In Siskiyou county he dug gold with varying success until 1862,when he with others formed a company of fifty-two and left Yreka for the Salmon river mines. Leaving trails and roads, they struck straight across the country for Walla Walla. On Granite creek the party found paying placer mines; and Mr. Grandy remained until 1863, when he visited his old home in Ohio.

The month of March, 1864, found him on the Missouri river with mule-teams headed once more for Oregon. Arriving in the Grande Ronde valley on the Fourth of July, he visited his mines and worked them until fall, when he sold out and returned to the Grande Ronde valley. He here occupied a claim at Oro Dell, a mile west of La Grande, and in the intervals of his homesteading mined to good advantage on the John Day river, and engaged in freighting and teaming across the Blue Mountains from Umatilla to Idaho and all the north country. Later he took a claim three-quarters of a mile north of Old La Grande, upon which the new town stands. This was incorporated in 1`884, embracing also the old place; and the two together have now some sixteen hundred people. Of this city Mr. Grandy was mayor without opposition in 1886, and again in1888. He is one of the wealthy men of the place. His first home occupation was keeping a dairy; and this he had continued to the present time. He was married in 1865 to Miss Lydia palmer, daughter of Robert H. Palmer, a pioneer of 1864. They have eight children, - William D., Katie, Mabel, Josie, Benjamin, Robert, Nellie and Charles. In one respect Mr. Grandy's career has been remarkable, and, as all will regard it, highly commendable. In all his teaming to Idaho, and in traversing the Northwest, he had no difficulty whatever with Indians.

Charles L. was born in Knox county, Illinois, on August 16, 1856, being the son of Ezra and Mary A. (Ostrom) Green, farmers of that vicinity. In the spring of 1861, the parents left their Illinos home to try the fortunes of California, going thither by wagon across the dreary plains where dwelt hardship and danger. Arriving in the Sacramento valley in due time, they remained there but one year and turned again toward the east, settling in southwestern Missouri. At this place in 1866 the father passed from the labors of this life to the realities of another. In Jasper county,Missour, our subject attended the district schools and there received his educational discipline, remaining as one of the family circle until 1870, when he engaged for wages on a farm, continuing this service for about eight years. Then he rented a farm for himself, and in 1882 set his face to the west once more, coming this time to Wallowa county, whence his mother and brother had preceded him by three years. He took up a homestead nine miles north from Enterprise, on Trout creek, and assiduously went to work to open a farm and build a home. He engaged in general farming and stock raising until February, 1897, and then sold out and came to Union county. Here he purchased his present place of eighty acres, eight miles north of Cove, and has devoted his attention to farming and fruit raising. He has been prospered and is accumulating a good portion of this world's goods. He has a place that shows thrift and industry and skillful management.

The marriage of Mr. Green and Miss Margaret E., daughter of Jackson and Marinda (Richardson) Wright, was solemnized on June 7, 1893, and to them have been born four children as follows: Mary M., Bertha M., Fanny H., and Lillie B. Mr. Green is a substantial, capable, upright, skillful and enterprising citizen, adding to the wealth of the county by his industry, and contributing to the advancement of the same by his activity and interest in the welfare of its progress and upbuilding.

Mr. Greiner was born in Ashland county, Ohio, on May 7, 1837, to Martin and Elizabeth (Gipe) Greiner, farmers of that state.In 1849 the father departed this earthy life and in 1869 the mother was called to lay down its burdens. David remained at home during the years of his minority, receiving a good education from the public schools and learning and perfecting himself in the carpenter trade. In 1856 he followed the advice of the noted sage and went to the west, stopping in Iowa, where he wrought at his trade until 1860, then returned to the place of his birth, remaining until 1863. The following year he took up the journey across the plains, passing through the Grande Ronde valley September 12, 1864. He stopped at Walla Walla and there wrought at his trade and took up a ranch. He combined farming and carpentering for a number of years and then repaired to Dayton, Washington, and engaged in the woolen mill there for two and one-half years.Eighteen hundred and seventy-three was the date of his settlement in that town and it was 1892 before he pulled up stakes to quit that section and seek new lands. After the time spent in the wooolen mill he removed to a farm that he owned five miles out and to the art of agriculture he was given until the time that he came to the Grande Ronde valley in 1892. Here he bought three hundred and twenty acres of land, three and one-half miles northwest from Alciel, and settled down to farming and he is one of the prosperous and well to do agriculturists of the county to-day. His principal crops are grain and hay.

Mr. Greiner was married in Iowa in February, 1859, to Miss Mary J.Sweeney, who was taken hence by death in 1868, after having borne four children, as follows: Henrietta, Lige, Lafayette, Mary Alice. A second time Mr. Greiner was married and the lady of his choice on this occasion ws Mrs. Jennie Jaycox, widow of Henry Jaycox, and daughter of Richard and Mary Halleys, residents of Union county, coming hither from Kentucky in 1880. This marriage was solemnized on December 6, 1883. By her former husband Mrs. greiner has three children: Lou, wife of Frank Owsley, grain buyer of Lagrande; Iona, wife of James Woodell, stockman of Wallowa; Mary, wife of Dan Mercheson, farmer near Lagrande. Mr. and Mrs. Greiner are highly esteemed and respected and are valuable members of society. To them have been born four children: Pearl, Frank, Raymond and Leo.

Young Burrell W. was in the meantime growing into a stout lad, and was receiving his education under the tuition of Honorable Orange Jacobs. At the age of twenty-two he was ready to pack his blankets and seek his fortune. He went to the mines of Eastern Oregon, and was one of the party who discovered the Granite creek mines on the John Day river. After two summers he arrived at Silver City, Idaho territory, and was initiated in stage driving on the Umatilla and Placerville route for Ish & Hailey. For the greater part of the time until 1870, he satisfactorily occupied the position of division agent for this company.

Having been married in1869 to Miss Abbie Parish of Port Townsend, the year following he engaged in farming and stock-raising on a large scale. His election as sheriff of Walla Walla county two years later forced him to quit this occupation. Upon the expiration of his term, he engaged unsuccessfully for three years in mining on Gallice creek, Josephine county, Oregon. Returning to his old business of staging, he took charge of the Mammoth line from Boise to Winnemucca, and a year later was agent for the Utah, Idaho & Oregon Stage Company throughout the Inland Empire.

Securing a section and a half of land near Blalock he erected a hotel and conducted it in connection with the business of office agent for the stage company, and for Wells, Fargo & Co. Several years there, however, prepared him for a removal to Wallowa Bridge, Oregon, where he is at present presiding, and is owner and manager of the La Grande and Wallowa stage line.

Mr. Griffin lost by death his first wife in 1875. Some years later he married Miss Margaret Courtnay, of Umatilla county. They have five children.