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GEORGE GEKELER. Deceased. - One of the earliest pioneers that turned the sod in the Grande Ronde valley is the subject of this memorial, and it is with pleasure that we are privileged to accord to his memory these items, since in all his ways he was a faithful man, stanch and upright, and ever wrought for the best interests of all, while his broad public spirit, unswerving integrity, marked capabilities and consummate energy dominated with excellent wisdom stamped him the loyal citizen, the successful business man and valuable member of society.

George Gekeler was born in Lancaster, New York, on June 14, 1833, where also he was reared and received his early training in the public schools. As many of the lads in the rural districts, he spent the summers in occupation on the father's farm and the winters in the pursuit of knowledge. He remained in his native place until he had reached the age of twenty-six, then took the western trail, halting when he reached Nebraska, and there settled on a homestead and began the toil of making a home. When he had spent two years there he became convinced that better fields were ahead, and accordingly he fitted out ox teams, joined the Yount train, and on May 26, 1862, began the march to the Pacific coast. On September 30th he found himself in the fertile valley of the Grande Ronde and he decided to seek no further. He at once took a pre-emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres, which proved upon survey to be half school land, which, however, he purchased from the state for two and one-half dollars per acre. The first three years in the new land were spent in teaming from The Dalles to Silver City, spending some time on the farm. Subsequent to this time he went to farming and continued steadily and successfully at it until 1876, when he was in shape to purchase more land and secured an improved quarter where the family now live, one mile east and one mile south from Lagrande. In 1886 he erected a fine dwelling and also other outbuildings and a commodious barn and also in that year purchased one hundred and eighteen acres more of land. In 1892 he made another purchase, securing a quarter section, making the total acreage of his estate five hundred and ninety-eight. He was an excellent farmer and knew how to make the soil produce abundant crops. His crop of hay alone was over three hundred tons annually, besides the cereals and other productions. A fine orchard adds value and grace to the place.

Mr. Gekeler married Miss Catherine S., daughter of Louis and Fannie (Kintz) King, in 1859, and they have become the parents of eleven children, nine of whom are living, as follows: William F., married to Edith Carter and farms four miles east from Lagrande; Edward S. married Sarah Hill and lives on a farm four and one-half miles east from Elgin; Minnie A., now the wife of William Hughes, who lives on a farm two miles east from Lagrande; Charles R.,; Dora M., wife of Irwin Smutz, living nine and one-half miles east of Lagrande, Fannie A., wife of Ernest Delong, living in Lagrande; George O.; Alma P., and Nellie L. The unmarried ones are living at home. Mr. Gekeler was always upright, faithful and genial, prosecuting his business with vigor and wisdom, and he gained and retained the good will and esteem of all who knew him. On October 25, 1901, he was claimed by the angel of death and taken to the realities of another world. His demise was a time of sincere mourning, for he was well and favorably known in all parts of the county. Mrs. Gekeler is a lady of real worth and worthy character, and is handling the affairs of responsibility that fell to her lot in a commendable manner, while she is beloved and esteemed by all.

EDWARD S. GEKELER. - We are especially gratified to have the pleasure of chronicling the career of the gentleman, whose name is at the head of this article, since he is a son of one of the earliest pioneers of this county, and since, too, he is one who owns Union county as his birthplace, having passed his life largely within its precincts, and to his credit be it said that he is a son in whom his native section may well take a pardonable pride, since he has displayed those qualities of worth and merit that characterized his father before him and are now exempliefied in the son, who is going forward with the work here where the father wrought with such commendable zeal and sagacity.

In Union county, Oregon, as before mentioned, on July 2, 1864, Edward S., was born to George and Catherine (King) Gekeler, natives of New York, but pioneers to this county in the early sixties. The mother is now living in the Grande Ronde valley, on the old home place, near Lagrande, while the other members of the family are also worthy citizens of the county. Our subject worked with his father until he had attained his twenty-fourth year, and then inaugurated independent action, purchasing a farm in the vicinity of Lagrande, where for three years he bestowed his labors and attention, making excellent progress in the labors of his hands. In 1891 he sold his ranch and removed to the vicinity of Elgin, selecting his present farm and purchasing it, it being located five and one-half miles northeast from Elgin, and comprising one hundred and sixty acres. He is giving his attention here to farming and is prosperous and successful and numbered with the substantial and capable men of the section, while in affability and geniality he is ever exceeding and has numbered among his friends all who know him.

Mr. Gekeler married Miss Sarah, daughter of John and Sarah Hill, mention of whom is made in another portion of the volume, on December 25, 1888, and they have become the parents of the following offsprings: Edwin, Walter, James, Mary and John.

Our subject was born in Richardson county, Nebraska, to George and Katherine S. (King) Gekeler, in January, 1862. In the same year he was brought to the Grande Ronde valley by his father and settled here. The son grew up amid the environments of the western home and acquired the educational discipline to be had in the schools of the county. His summers were occupied on the farm with his father and the winters in study. Until twenty-two years of age he remained with his father, and then he rented a farm for himself. Two years he was a tenant on land and then he bought eighty acres of his present place, which lies one and one-half miles south from Island City. He set himself with determination to make a success in his farming and to this he has bent all his energies with the gratifying result that fortune has smiled upon his efforts and he is numbered with the well-to-do and leading farmers of his section while also he has maintained a good reputation and displays an upright and stanch character of great moral worth. In 1898 Mr. Gekeler was enabled to add to his estate by purchase, and his farm now is one hundred and fifty acres all well tilled and made to produce the most abundant crops of which the soil is capable. In 1896 he built a commodious barn, and good out buildings are clustered about, while his residence, built in the same year, is modern and complete, and is a fine structure, making his rural home a place of beauty and convenience and comfort. He has a good orchard of assorted varieties.

In 1882 Mr. Gekeler married Miss Edith M. Carter, a daughter of Daniel and Martha (Hanna) Carter, and to them have been born five children as follows: Bessie M., William Roy, Benjamin C., Martha, Kate, and Kenneth L.M. Mrs. Gekeler was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on August 12, 1861, and came west with her mother in 1879, locating in Union county. Fraternally, Mr. Gekeler is affiliated with the M.W.A. in which, as in all his relations in life, he is highly esteemed and respected for his stanch qualities of worth and the display of sagacity and enterprise that characterize him.