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Among the prosperous and thrifty agricultural and stock-raising population of Union county there should be mentioned in a work of the character of the volume now under consideration of the substantial citizen whose name initiates this paragraph, because he has lived since an early day in the county, being practically a product of its institutions, and because he has achieved here a worthy and commendable success, and because of the stanch qualities with which he is endowed so richly.

In Oregon have been born some of the leading citizens of Oregon, and one among the number is our subject, he having been born in Benton county on January 26, 1865, to Merrell and Nancy J. (Means) Jasper, pioneers from Missouri in the early time of 1852, and settling in the Willamette valley. In 1868 the parents came to Union county, settling near where the son now lives, and the father was not only one of the leading stockmen and farmers of the county, but was also a leader in the realm of politics. He was ever interested in good government and was potent in bringing about influences for upbuilding and advancement. In 1876 the people of the county chose him for the state senate, and there he did good service and faithful. In 1885, April, he was called from the cares and responsibilities of earth to the world above, whence his beloved companion had preceded him in June 1871.

The immediate subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of our county and then engaged for wages in farming for a time, when he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Elgin, taking up one hundred and sixty more from the government. Here he gave his attention to general farming until December, 1897, when he purchased two hundred acres seven and one-half mile north of Cove, and to this he has since added by purchase two hundred and eighty more, which makes him a fine estate that is well tilled and skillfully handled. From one hundred and ten acres he raises hay and grain, and the balance is devoted to pasture for his herds.

On December 1, 1897, Mr. Jasper married Miss Ella, daughter of Davis and Julia Boswell, and to them have been born the following children: Ora, three years of age on December 14, 1901; Gladys, eleven months old at the present writing, January, 1902. Mrs. Jasper's parents were early settlers of Union county, and wrought with that worthy number who have developed this fertile region for the abode of man. Mr. Jasper is well esteemed by his fellows, has an unsullied reputation, is a man of good qualities and true, while he has done much for the upbuilding of his home county, and has shown those characteristics which are the make-up of the substantial and capable citizen.

THOMAS B. JOHNSON. - To the honest tiller of the soil and raiser of stock in this county we are largely indebted for its steady growth and substantial development in the augmenting of its wealth and the tapping of its resources. This class of Union's citizens are to be congratulated on their faithful and successful efforts, and as one prominent in these industries, we surely must mention the gentleman, whose name is at the head of this article and who has wrought with energy and assiduity in the prosecution of these enterprises steadily for a long period of years.

Thomas B. is the son of Davis W. and Margret (Bell) Johnson. The father was born in 1824 in Indiana, and is a veteran of the Civil war, serving in the Eleventh Missouri Volunteers, Company G. In 1863 he came to the Willamette valley, and the following year made his way to Union county. He operated a blacksmith shop from 1864 to 1872. In 1867 he purchased a farm and was engaged in farming and stock-raising until two years since, when he retired from the more active duties of business and is now living in Union. The mother had died and is buried in the Union cemetery. More specifically regarding our subject, at the age of twenty, Thomas B. started for himself herding sheep. In the fall of 1881 he bought sheep in partnership with his brother-in-law, and continued in the prosecution of this industry under this arrangement until 1884, since which time he has been farming and stock-raising for himself alone. He owns a fine estate of nine hundred acres, nine miles southeast from Union, which is well improved and is the headquarters for his stock.

Mr. Johnson married Miss Ida B. Blake, in 1883, and to them have been born the following children: Edie K., died July 27, 1885; Walter H., Olie I., Lister V. and Charles D. Mr. Johnson is affiliated with the W. of W. and the I.O.O.F. and is the recipient of the confidence and esteem of his fellows.

EVAN E. JONES. - The well known member of the agricultural population of Union county whose name is at the head of this article is one of the capable and enterprising men of our county, and he has afine estate of two quarters, one of which is valuable for a fine quarry of stone, while the other is one of the fertile farms of the vicinity of Elgin, and he has labored faithfully in his endeavors to forward the welfare of the county as well as make for himself the abundant success that is his meed to enjoy at the present time.

Evan E. was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 2, 1859, being the son of John E. and Rachel Jones, mention of whom is made in another portion of this work. His early life was spent in acquiring an education and assisting his father. At the age of eighteen he stepped forth on the arena of life's battles and since has done creditably to himself. In 1887 he came to Union county, taking a pre-emption of one quarter-section adjoining his present place, which is three miles northwest from Elgin. The pre-emption has a fine quarry of red stone which is suitable for building purposes and will doubtless prove of great value. He worked with his father until the death of the latter, then he purchased his present farm from the parental estate and here he is now engaged in producing the fruits of the field and in raising stock for the markets. He is attended with a good success because of his care and industry in business affairs, and he is one of the substantial and prominent farmers and stockmen of this section.

At Elgin, Oregon, in December 1887, Mr. Jones married Miss Eliza, daughter of Ransom and Virginia (Ward) Gent, natives of Virginia. To this happy union there have been born the following children: Ralph E. and John. Mrs. Jones father farmed in Missouri until his death in 1864 and then the sons and the mother came across the plains to this country, and she lives north of Elgin now. Mr. Jones is a member of the K. of P., Orion Lodge, No. 73. He is secure in the esteem and good will of his fellows and his uprightness and integrity are manifest to all.

THOMAS JONES. - It is a noted principle, that in the degree in which one is called to endure hardship and successfully surmounts all obstacles and triumphs over every opposition, in that degree is his character strengthened and his forces of real manhood brought out. May it not be that because of the application of this principle, we have in so many of the early pioneers of this wealthy county, such fine specimens of genuine manhood and especially developed in the virtues mentioned. Well known among this worthy number is the esteemed gentleman, whose name initiates this paragraph, and who has surely done a noble part in enduring the woes of humanity and is developing the resources of the county, while he has ever manifested in the long years of his residence here a commendable exemplication of the Christian character and the sagacity and ability with which he is endowed.

In Cocke county, Tennessee, on September 12, 1827, Thomas Jones was born to Russell and Sarah (Hayes) Jones. The father died when Thomas was yet very small and so he never knew the wise guiding of a father's counsel. He passed the years of his minority on the farm and in attending school as he had opportunity, until he was twenty-three years of age. At that time he hired out for four years to operate a farm. In 1854, he bought a farm for himself in his native county which he sold two years later and embarked in the mercantile world in partnership with Mr. McMahan at Bridgeport, in his native state. In the fall of 1858, he sold out this business and migrated to Benton county, Arkansas, and farmed for one year, then went to Washington county, the same state, for a couple of years and then moved to Buchanan county, Missouri, thence to Platte county and in the spring of 1864 sold out and started for Oregon with ox teams. The journey began on May 13, 1864, and ended in the Grande Ronde valley on September 25, 1864. While en route he was taken sick at the Platte river and suffered for twenty days with the pneumonia. Upon arriving at their destination, he contracted to work for the man who lives next to his present place and after fulfilling ten days of the time was taken sick with the typhoid fever and was unable to get out until the next spring. He then rented his present place and two years later, bought it. He lives two and one half miles north from Cove. Here he has carried on general farming and stockraising until the present time, being prosperous in his efforts.

On January 17, 1854, Mr. Jones married Miss Maria Jane, daughter of Warren and Sarah Brook, natives of Tennessee. They have become the parents of the following children: Sarah Eveline, now Mrs. Remillard: Susan Frances, wife of Ed E. Cates; Emma Jane, now Mrs. H.C. Nealy, of Cove; John T.; Royal D.; Mary V., wife of Ed Rees. Mr. Jones is not a political aspirant but is interested in good government. He joined the Methodist church in 1858 and has been a member since and is highly respected and esteemed by all.

When Mr. Jones came across the plains he was with a small train, and at Deer Creek station the Indians stole the stock. In attempting to regain them, some of the party were killed. The unfortunate travelers in their dire distress turned to Colonel Williams, of the United States army, for assistance and even offered him five hundred dollars to recover the stock, but he declined. The men afterwards were convinced that he was a beneficiary in this wretched undertaking of the theft and have many indications to warrant that belief.