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Mr. Halley was born in Macon county, Missouri, on December 12, 1835, being the son of James and Ellen (Fisher) Halley, natives of Kentucky. The father passed the river of death while still in Missouri and the mother was called hence from Grande Ronde valley, the latter occuring in 1892. Our subject bought a farm in Missouri when he had reached hismajority and there was numbered among the successful agriculturists until 1864, in which year he took up the weary journey across the plains, utilizing mule teams for the trip and driving his stock with him. He landed in the Grande Ronde valley in good time and with attending Providence and he immediately took up a homestead three miles north from Island City and set himself to building a home from the wild land. He was attended with abundant success and his real estate holdings increased as the years went by until he had at the time of his death five hundred acres of good land. Twenty-five acres are used for meadow, twenty-five for pasture and the balance is brought under tribute to produce abundant crops of the cereals each year. In addition to this industry he also raised considerable stock, handling thoroughbred sheep and horses. In 1878 he went to Wallowa county and inaugurated action on a sheep ranch, adding also cattle and horses. The venture was a success, but in 1882, however, he returned to his ranch in Union county. Mr. Halley was always striving for the welfare of the county and took the part of the intelligent citizen in politics.

In 1854 Mr. Halley married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Mary Halley, natives of Kentucky, and to this happy union there were born five children, as follows: Robert, in Wallowa; Belle, wife of James McAlister: Edward, at home: Press, in Eagle Valley: and Page.

In 1873 Mr. Halley contracted a second marriage, the lady of his choice at that time being Miss Kate, a daughter of David and Sarah (Shook) Henderson, farmers. On October 23,1898, Mr. Halley was called by the messenger of death and a loving family were bereaved of a faithful husband and noble father.

H.A. HANSEN. - Among the enterprising and industrious agriculturists of Union county, mention should be made of the gentleman, whose name initiates this paragraph, since his energy and ability have been manifest to all and since he has distinguished himself by his faithfulness and success that he has attained in tilling the soil and in raising stock. He is also popular among his fellows for they have again and again manifested their confidence in him at the polls and have kept him in public office almost continuously for the last decade.

The pleasant little Kingdom of Denmark has furnished many thrifty citizens for our country, but none more faithful and deserving than he, who was born there in 1842, the subject of this sketch. At the early age of fourteen years, Mr. Hansen started out for himself and soon was farming and until he was thirty years of age he continued at this industry. At the age last mentioned he left the native land and embarked for the United States, where he made his way to the vicinity of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and engaged there in saw mill work, for two and one-half years. After this period, he went to Kansas, locating in Wilson county, where he worked in a livery stable for five years and farmed for two years and then came to the Sound country in Washington and remained at Whatcom for one year. From there he migrated to the Grande Ronde country and in this valley he rented a farm which he worked for three years and then he took up a piece of land eight miles south and west from Lagrande and engaged in raising cattle and hay. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of good land and is prosperous in his endeavors. At the present time he is living in a home in the suburbs of Lagrande and occupied with the oversight of his estate. For twelve years, Mr. Hansen has been kept in the office of road supervisor by his appreciative constituency.

In 1895, Mr. Hansen married Mrs. Sarah (Brower) Parrent, widow of Tip Parrent, a man prominent in political circles in this county, and at one time held the postmastership at Summerville. Mr. Parrent was one of the leading educationalists of the county and taught much throughout the county. His death occurred in 1890, at Weston, Umatilla county. The widow of Mr. Parrent had one child at the time of her marriage with Mr. Hansen. Harry B., and he is attending the high school at Lagrande at the present time and is also taking a course in bookkeeping in the Eastern Oregon Commercial college. He is now sixteen years of age. Mrs. Hansen's father, dr. Brower, was a prominent figure in the political world in Iowa, being county judge in Wayne county, where also he was the moving spirit in establishing the Masonic fraternity. His remains lie buried in Wayne county, Iowa. Mr. Hansen is one of the progressive and leading citizens of the county and is esteemed by all.

He was born and educated in Bavaria, and in 1853 came to New York, repairing soon to Washington, District of Columbia, and within two years more to Crescent city, California, and Althouse, Oregon. At that point he was engaged in business, and was there during the war of 1856. As commander of an expedition for packing arms and ammunition to the volunteers, he saw active service, and was barricaded for some time. Upon this packing trip he found one man killed and another wounded by Indians, who had surprised them on the road; and his report of this outrage was the news which precipitated the war in that section. He saw service thereafter under Captain Driscoll.

In 1865 Mr. Heilner left merchandising, and being unsuccessful in quartz mining came up to Portland in search of an opening. Taking a stock of goods, he set out for the wild region at the Little Dalles, and thence passed to the Big Bend country. Thereafter he penetrated as far as Bear Gulf, Montana, and there disposed of the remainder of his goods. He now showed his facility by taking up a business which he had learned in the Old Country, that of landscape and portrait painting. In this pursuit he was successful; but it did not last long, and he returned to Portland, where he found employment with the Alaska Fur Company.

Upon his return some years later from the north, he was married to a lady of recognized position in Portland; and he engaged in business at Sparta in Union county, but subsequently removed to Baker City, Oregon, where he is at the present time successfully engaged in the forwarding and commission business, and the renting of several fine business houses. A magnificent design for a structure, in the hands of architect A.M. Milwain of Portland at present, will be erected during the season of 1889 by him; and he is always on the alert for improving Baker City.

His two oldest sons, Jesse and Joe, are cadets in Bishop Scott's Academy, Portland, Oregon.

In Monroe county, Illinois, our subject was born on  December 6, 1854, being the son of Joseph and Barbara (Shifferdecker), agriculturists of that section. The father died in 1899 and the mother in 1873. Our subject was trained in the public schools of the county of his birth and there he remained in industry with his father and also in operating a farm for himself until 1887, when he took a journey to the Mississippi valley about forty-five miles south from St. Louis. He was engaged in producing the fruits of the field for four years also operated a steamboat landing during the same time. In 1893 he was enamored of the west from the reports that had come to his ears, and accordingly, he came hither, landing in the Grande Ronde valley ready to seek a home and become one of the builders of the county. His first purchase was one half section of land three and one-half miles northwest from Union. He settled to general farming and soon took as a partner his brother, Anton b. Hempe. They have added to the original purchase until their estate is of the generous dimensions of seventeen hundred and twenty acres. Much of this is utilized for pasture, while one half section is put under tribute to produce the cereals and five acres are devoted to orchard, principally Italian prunes. They also handle considerable stock of the ordinary breeds.

Mr. Hempe was married to Miss Caroline, daughter of Matthew and Catherine (Klein) Kalmer, in Illinois, in the year of 1883. They have become the parents of five children. George, Idah, Sylvester, Mary, Agnes, all at home. The people have chosen Mr. Hempe as director in the district that he asisted to organize, number 72, to which he also has donated land for a school house site. He has also operated as road supervisor, in all of which public service he has made a commendable record. Fraternally he is associated with the Red Men, Tribe No. 22, of Union. In religious persuasion the family are affiliated with the Roman Catholic church at Lagrande, in which relation as everywhere. Mr. Hempe is highly esteemed by all, and meriting by honorable life the confidence that is reposed in him by his fellows.

Mr. Hendershott is, as the name implies, of German extraction, and was born in Illinois in 1829. His parents became early settlers of Iowa; and at Burlington young James received his education. While but a youth of nineteen he was married to Miss Harriet J. Vincent, of Iowa, and in 1852 crossed the plains to our state in the company of Asa McCully, who was in the lead of the other trains, and thereby escaped the plague and disasters for which that year was notable. As salesman of J.L. Starkey, at Salem, in 1852; as pioneer, auditor and sheriff of Josephine county from 1854 to 1860; as scout in the Indian war; as miner on the Salmon river, and as settler of the Grande Ronde valley, whither he first came in1862; as state legislator in 1866, state senator 1868-72 and state land registrar 1872-74, and now as horticultural commissioner, - Mr. Hendershott has made an honorable record, and has served the state with efficiency. He and his excellent wife are noted for their hospitality, and are honored by their neighbors.

On February 6,1855, Mr. Henricks was born in Fairfield county,Ohio, to John and Nancy (Hufford) Hendricks, natives respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania, but removing to Tama county, Iowa, in the fall of 1864, where they engaged in farming until the time that death took them from the activities of this life, the mother passing beyond in 1872, and the father taking his departure in 1883. Our subject worked with his father until he reached the age of majority and then engaged in farming for himself in Iowa until 1882, when he came to the fertile regions of the west, entering the saw milling business in Morrow ocunty where he labored for five years, then took upsheep raising in the John Day country with one Mr. Woolery, where two years were spent. The sheep were then sold and Mr. Hendricks and Mr. Woolery embarked upon the mercantile sea in Hardman, and our subject sold out in 1891, transferring his residence to Lagrande, where he established himself in the grocery business for a short time, then removed to Elgin and opened a general merchandise store with S.W. Miles. Two years later, Mr. Hendricks bought out his partner and since that time he has continued the business with ever increasing prosperity. He is also interested in handling lumber on a n extensive scale and is stockholder and director in the Elgin bank being for a number of years its president but declining that position at the present time because of the pressure of other business. He was interested in the flour mill one time, being secretary and treasurer of the company. Fraternally Mr. Hendricks is highly asociated, being a member of the Masons, Elgin Lodge, No. 82; O.E.S., Blue Mountain Chapter, No. 52; I.O.O.F., Elgin Lodge No. 142; K. of P., Orin Lodge, No. 73. For several terms he has been councilman for the town.

On August 11, 1889, Mr. Hendricks married Miss Allie, daughter of Judge Abel and Talitha (Bogart) Miles, at Grants Pass, Oregon. The father was a native of Kentucy and the mother of Tennessee, and Mrs. hendricks was born in Mercer county,Missouri. The father was a merchant in Indiana, Missouri, and Iowa, in which latter state he died in1886, and the mother left the toils of this life one year later. Mr. Miles was judge during his residence in Iowa. Mrs. Hendricks is also sister of her husband's former partner. Mr. Hendricks is one of the leading merchants of the county, and has a standing among the most influential men of this portin of the state,while he enjoys to the full the esteem and confidence of his fellows.

THOMAS HIGGINBOTHAM - The representative and well known gentleman whose name appears at the head of this article has been a resident of Union County for more than a score of years, and he is to-day numbered with the most substantial and influential citizens here, and his home place, a farm two miles northwest from Elgin, displays industry and thrift, coupled with which are his stanch qualities of worth and moral excellence.

On March 17, 1856, in Wayne county, Kentucky, our Subject was born to James and Priscilla (Cullum) Higginbotham, natives also of the Blue Grass State. In 1863 the parents went to Clay county, Illinois, and thence to Sangamon county, the same state, where the father was called from life in the fall of 1864, and his remains lie buried in Springfield, Illinois. In the same year the balance of the family removed to Marion county, Iowa, the older sons occupying themselves with the art of agriculture. In 1867 they removed to Sullivan county, Missouri, and for six years continued their employment in the line of farming, then went to Linn county and there they tilled the soil until the date of their advent to the west in 1881. They first went to Walla Walla, Washington, and after a few months came thence to Union county, in October of the same year. Our subject then purchased his present place, two miles northwest from Elgin. It contained one hundred and sixty acres, and is now the size of three hundred and sixty acres. Mr. George C. Higginbotham, a brother of our subject, and born August 31, 1845, in Wayne county, Kentucky, lives with our subject, and together they operate this fine estate, having labored together more or less all the time since they have been men. The mother lived with them until the time of her death, which occurred June 27, 1899, and her remains are buried at the Elgin cemetery.

Mr. Higginbotham was married on August 10, 1879, in Linn county, Missouri, to Amelia, daughter of Ransom and Virginia (Ward) Gent, Natives of Virginia and farmers of Missouri at this time. Six children have been born to them, Florence, James, Ransom, Priscilla, Thomas and Virginia. Mrs. Higginbotham’s father died in Missouri, but the mother came west with her sons and now lives north from Elgin. Mr. Higginbotham is a member of the K. of P., Orion Lodge, No. 73. He is a broad-minded and loyal citizen, possessed of capabilities that have won his success, and his integrity is quite commensurate with the other qualities of intrinsic worth.

Mr. Holman was born in Tortuna, Vestmanland, Sweden, on December 8, 1857, the rural districts being his home. He received a good education attending school regularly nine months each year for a period of seven years. Then he gave his whole attention to assisting his father on the farm, and when he had reached his majority, engaged with a neighbor for six months, receiving as a remuneration for this service, one hundred kroner, equal to about twenty-seven dollars of our money. He served another six months on his father's farm and then, being twenty-two years of age, he embarked for America, settling first in Kansas City, Kansas, whence, six months later, he went to Sandy, Utah, making his home in that vicinity for four years. In 1880 his father came to this country, bought a farm in Salt Lake county, ten miles south from Salt Lake City, and our subject rented the same, continuing in that capacity for three years. Then he went to Roseburg, Idaho, and settled on a fraction of school land, whence, in 1885, having sold his right to the land for a horse, he came to Lagrande, and soon went to Whiskey creek and took a homestead, living there for ten years. He engaged in farming and stock raising, and in 1893 he was abundantly able to add to his estate, so acquired title by purchase to another quarter section, giving him a generous farm of three hundred and twenty acres. He handles a large herd of stock, milks about twenty cows, and recently bought another quarter section, two miles east from Island City, where he resides at the present time. He still owns his original place. His home place is well improved, has an excellent orchard of assorted varieties of fruit, and is tilled in a skillful and husband-like manner.

In 1885 Mr. Holman married Miss Anna Christina, daughter of Mats and Josephine C. (Lunquist) Anderson. They have three children: John E., Minnie M., and Lillie A., all living with their parents. Mrs. Holman's parents are living in Union county, coming there in 1888, and she came to this country alone. Mr. Holman is a valuable member of society, has done much for the advancement of the interests of the county, producing much wealth for the same, and has ever demeaned himself in such a commendable manner that he is numbered among the substantial, intelligent and admired citizens of our county.

George H. Holmes was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 12, 1855, to L.R. and Jane (Gabriel) Holmes, the father being a leading merchant of that city. In 1862 the parents brought their family to Bannock City, Montana, where they remained for one year, being there at the time that the noted and desperate outlaw, Sheriff Henry Plummer, was hanged. From that place they came to Walla Walla and the father engaged in freighting to the Boise Basin mines until the fall of 1868, and then came to the Grande Ronde valley, where in 1870 he purchased a quarter section of land, and later added three-fourths of a section more, using one-half of the land for pasturage and one-half for crops. On June 8, 1901, the mother was called to the realities of another world, and the father on July 3, 1892. Returning to our subject, he was educated in the schools where his father resided in Walla Walla and the Grande Ronde valley, and when he had arrived to the years of manhood, he entered the stock business in Union and Wallowa counties, driving cattle and horses to the eastern markets, making two or three trips, one in which he took two hundred and fifty-nine head of horses. In 1885 he sold the horses and entered the bank at Enterprise as bookkeeper, where he remained until the death of his father, when he returned to the farm, which is two and one-half miles northwest from Cove. Mr. Holmes takes great interest in first-class stock and has imported some fine specimens of horses, sheep, and hogs. He has one excellent Clydesdale stallion, "Breadalbane," weighing eighteen hundred pounds, which he imported direct from the Clyde stables. He has brought to the county some first-class Cotswold sheep and Berkshire hogs.

The marriage of Mr. Holmes and Miss Susie A., daughter of John and Helen Zurcher, old pioneers of Wallowa county, was solemnized on September 23, 1891, and to them have been born the following children: John L., nine years old; Jane M., five years old; Louise Ruth, three years old. Politically, Mr. Holmes takes the part of the good citizen, and ever stands for the faithful execution of salutary laws. He is one of the most alert business men of the county and handles his large interests in a manner becoming his capabilities and is progressive and a leader in the lines of improvement and advancement, having done much to aid in the promotion of the interests of agriculture and stock raising.

Samuel M. was born at Montgomery, Arkansas, on December 23, 1836, to Samuel and Elizabeth (Wells) Horrell. The father was a native of Ohio. In 1848 the family removed to Texas and engaged in raising stock, where they were attended with success, but in 1876 the father started with a drove of cattle into Mexico and was then killed by the Indians. Our subject had continued with his father until this time, and then he bought a farm in the western part of Texas and gave his attention to raising cattle and also to farming. He had the distinction of being a member of that noted body known everywhere as the Texas Rangers. It was in 1882 that Mr. Horrell sold his property in Texas and made his way overland to Union county. He soon selected his present place four and one-half miles north from Elgin, purchasing the same and settling down to farming and stock raising. He has a good farm of one-half section, which is well handled and improved.

On February 14, 1861, Mr. Horrell married Miss Martha a., daughter of Sands and Nancy Stanley, natives of Tennessee. To crown the happy union there have been born to them seven children: William, Sarah A., John, Texanna, Frank, Gus, and Meriet. Mr. Horrell has spent many years on the frontier, where he has braved the dangers incident to that region, and his life is filled with stirring adventure, and be it said to his credit that his courage and intrepidity and valor have done credit to the stock whence he sprang, and today he is one of the substantial men of this community, and is esteemed both for his abilities and stanch qualities of worth.

Mr. Horsepool was born in Nottinghamshire, England, on January 21, 1824, received there a good education and labored in the zoological gardens until 1852, when he embarked for the United States and settled in Illinois. He soon removed to Richardson county, Nebraska, and there followed farming until the spring of 1862, when hemade the weary journey across the plains to the Grande Ronde valley. But one log cabin stood on the site of the now prosperous town of Lagrande. He hmesteaded land two and one-half miles southeast and there bestowed his labors for a time, planting there the first willows in the county, then engaged in the butcher business in Lagrande-old town. His business increased and success crowned his capable efforts. In 1889 he sold the business to Palmer & Weller and retired from active life.

In 1867 Mr. Horsepool married Mrs. Eliza Murray, widowed sister of H.P. Lewis, and to them were born two children: George E., now in Fresno, California, and Ida L., wife of J.T. Richardson of Lagrande.Mr. Richardson has been recorder of Union county, and is one of the prominent men of the county.Mrs. Horsepool died in 1876. Our subject married a second time, Mrs. Jemima Hemmings became his wife on December 16, 1880, and she too, died in 1886. Mr. Horsepool was an active member of the I.O.O.F., and he was also a charter member of the Baptist church in Lagrande. He labored during his life for the advancement and upbuilding of the church and much credit is due him for this faithful support. Some six months before his death he was taken sick, and as the months passed by it was evident that he must pass the river and on March 22,1896, the day came, and in the consolation of the faith which had buoyed him in life's struggle he calmly bade farewell to earth and went home to the reward of the true Christian. His was a good life, and many were the friends during its course who were won by his kindness, and he was sincerely mourned as a good man andkind benefactor.

Mr. Howard was born in east Tennessee on October 17, 1839, being the son of Enos J. and Mary J. Howard. While yet a child he was taken by his parents to Platte county, Missouri, near Kansas City, and there he remained until 1858. In that summer he engaged with a government train as teamster to Salt Lake City, where he viewed the country and made explorations until the following year and then returned to Missouri. In 1860 he went to Pike's Peak and there followed mining for two years. In 1862 he came to northeastern Oregon, traveling first over the Grande Ronde country and then going to Canyon City, where he assisted to erect the first log cabin in that now prosperous town. After that work he went to digging the treasure of the place mines for a short time and then repaired to the Willamette valley, spending the winter of 1862-3 in that well known country. The following spring he came back to the Grande Ronde and has ever since resided here. During the Indian trouble of 1878 he did considerable scouting and was prominent in the repulse of the redskins. At the present time Mr. Howard owns the property known as the Meadows, about ten miles south from Lagrande. He has one quarter-section, all fenced and well improved. His land is especially adapted for raising hay and he has plenty of water to irrigate when that is needed. Mr. Howard always takes an active interest in the affairs of the county and has ever labored for the advancement of good government, while his efforts have been faithful and worthy in all lines of development and progress in this county for nearly forty years. During these years he has ever demeaned himself with such wisdom and integrity and unswerving principles of truth that he has won the regard of his fellows and the respect of all. Mr. Howard is well acquainted all over the county and there are none of the old pioneers that are not familiar with the genial and wholesouled pioneer that has passed the years of his sojourn here in the solid enjoyment of the quieter pleasures of the celibate's life, while he has ever had a word of cheer for all and a ready hand to assist anyone of his fellows that stood in need.

To Samuel and Elizabeth (Moore) Hutchison, on October 6, 1859, was born in Fulton county, Illinois, a son, Albert. The father responded to the call of patriotism and gave his life in the defense of his country and sleeps in the grave of the honored and brave men who gave back to us at the cost of their blood the Union safe and without dismemberment. In 1864, the mother with her four little children removed to the Cumberland valley in Pennsylvania and remained for fourteen years when they migrated to Ellsworth county, Kansas, whence later our subject went to Custer county, Colorado, and in 1882 he came with teams to the Powder valley. He immediately went to work for the stockmen and at that business and on the farm he continued to labor with unremitting vigor for twelve years, when his thrift and economy had enabled him to lay by sufficient funds to purchase a fine farm, which he did, the estate lying three miles southwest from North Powder and consisting of two hundred and forty acres. It is well improved and since purchasing he has erected a fine large barn and an elegant modern dwelling. He is skilled in raising the fruits of the soil and in handling stock, both of which industries he prosecutes at the present time. He owns some fine cattle and horses and his farm is a picture of neatness and thrift, enterprise and progression being in evidence in every part.

On November 27, 1898, Mr. Hutchison married Miss Anna, daughter of John and Elizabeth Henderson, of Baker county, and to them have been born Myrtle E. and Ralph A. Fraternally Mr. Hutchison is associated with the Woodmen of the World at North Powder where he is esteemed and held in repute, and he is considered by all as one of the most progressive and leading agriculturists of the county and his painstaking labors and wise management have surely augmented the wealth of the county in no small degree, while the mead of his endeavors is evident in his substantial holdings.